Representatives of the departments concerned of the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council, friendly personages of various circles in the Capital and the Malaysian delegation totaling more than 800 people gathered happily at the reception “China-Malaysia Friendship Evening 2004” at the conference hall of the China World Hotel on May 29 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia. The reception was jointly sponsored by the CPAFFC and the Malaysian Embassy in China. CPAFFC President Chen Haosu presided over the reception. Vice Premier Huang Ju of the State Council and the visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi attended the reception and made speeches.
Vice Premier Huang Ju, on behalf of the Chinese Government, expressed warm welcome to Prime Minister Badawi for attending the celebration activities and extended his respects to people of all walks of life who cared for and supported the cause of China-Malaysia friendship over the years.
Huang Ju said, China and Malaysia are friendly close neighbours. Great changes have taken place in the past 30 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations and the traditional friendship between them has become more consolidated with the passing of time. The two countries have won eye-catching achievements in cooperation in many areas. The annual bilateral trade volume has exceeded 20 billion US dollars and the number of people visiting each other’s countries has surpassed one million person/times. The number of Chinese students studying in Malaysia has reached 13,000. All this has demonstrated China-Malaysia relations have entered a new period of all-round rapid development.
Huang Ju said, China and Malaysia uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in developing bilateral relations. Our two countries have always understood, sympathized and supported each other when faced with difficulties and challenges. The development of China-Malaysia relations has not only brought real benefit to the people of our two countries, but also contributed positively to peace and development in the region and the world at large. During Prime Minister Badawi’s present visit, the two governments reach consensus on pressing ahead with the all-round China-Malaysia strategic cooperation, pointing out the direction for future development of bilateral relations. The Chinese side is willing, together with the Malaysian side, to create an even better future for China-Malaysia relations.
Prime Minister Badawi delivered a warm speech at the reception. He said, since Malaysia and China established diplomatic relations in 1974, bilateral relations have become mature and mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields has continued to increase. Malaysia looks upon China as an important cooperation partner and hopes to expand friendly cooperation in the fields of agriculture, information and telecommunication technology, education, etc. He congratulated China on its rapid economic development and reiterated that Malaysia would continue to give its firm support to the one-China policy.
Badawi said, during the present visit to China he had cordial meetings with the Chinese leaders and the two sides signed several documents on cooperation. The visit achieved fruitful results. He believed that the visit would bring the Malaysia-China relations into a new period.
Chinese and Malaysian artists presented excellent performances of folk songs and dances at the reception.