Anwar Ibrahim Meets NPC China Chairman Zhao Leji

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held an hour-long meeting with the Chairman of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee of China Zhao Leji in Putrajaya.

The meeting, which took place during Zhao's honorary visit to Malaysia on Friday (19/5), approved an increase in cooperation under the Initative Belt and Sutera Line (BRI) such as twin projects involving two countries, in addition to continuing to encourage currency and cooperation between China's NPC and the Malaysian Parliament.

The twin projects involving the two countries are the East Coast Rail Link Project (ECRL) and High-Tech Automotive Valley (AHTV).

The two also agreed to work together to promote community relations by increasing connectivity where Malaysia expects more tourists from China to arrive.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abd. Kadir through his social media account in Kuala Lumpur, Saturday, said that Anwar and Zhao had also agreed to strengthen bilateral relations that had been upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since 2013, under the auspices of Malaysia Madani and the Community of Shared Future for the benefit of the common people.

In this regard, he said, the Asian Monetary Fund's proposal was in line with the aspirations of the Joint Future Community.

For starters, Zambry said ASEAN countries would use their respective currencies and in that case, continued support from China in that endeavor would benefit in the long term.

Before meeting Malaysian PM, China's 14th NPC chairman Zhao Leji met Malaysia's King Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah at the State Palace on the same day.

Zhao made an honorary visit to Malaysia on May 18-20, 2023. This visit was carried out after PM Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to China, which signifies the interests given to bilateral relations based on shared trust and historic relations.