KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and China have inked 14 memorandum of understanding (MoUs) in various areas of cooperation for both countries, including for digital economy, green development and tourism, among others.
The exchange of MoUs was carried out earlier today by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the latter's three-day official visit here beginning Tuesday.
Nine ministries were involved in the exchange of MoUs, namely the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti); Finance Ministry; Agriculture and Food Security; Housing and Local Government; Home Affairs; Science, Technology and Innovation; Higher Education; Tourism, Arts and Culture; and Communications.
Three agreements were exchanged by Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz with his China counterpart Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.
The agreement included the second cycle of the Malaysia-China five-year programme for economic and trade cooperation to further deepen linkages between industries in priority sectors such as high-level manufacturing and digital economy.
Additionally, an MoU on the strengthening of investment cooperation in the digital economy, which outlined a comprehensive economic and trade cooperation plan between Malaysia and China that sets the framework for bilateral cooperation for the next five years in strategic areas of trade and investment was also exchanged.
Meanwhile, two MoUs were exchanged by the Communications Ministry; one with the China Media Group on cooperation in the field of media and another on the strengthening of cooperation in the postal field between the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the China State Postal Bureau.
Under the Finance Ministry, a joint statement on the national single window for cross-border trade initiatives which saw the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Single Window Cooperation between both countries to explore, adopt or initiate specific activities, projects and arrangements for single window interoperability was exchanged.
As for the Housing and Local Government Ministry, the MoU exchanged was for the fields of housing and urban development, while under the Higher Education Ministry, the agreement was on cooperation in the field of higher education.
The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry also exchanged an agreement on science and technology people-to-people exchange programme.
The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry exchanged one MoU on Phytosanitary Requirement for Export of Fresh Durians from Malaysia to China'.
Simultaneously, the Home Ministry exchanged an agreement on 'Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Transnational Crimes and a Note of Intent on Visa Exemption between Malaysia and China'.
The Tourism, Arts and Culture, meanwhile, saw two MoUs being exchanged, namely the executive programme for the implementation of the agreement on cultural Cooperation as well as cooperation in the field of tourism.
Earlier, both Anwar and Li had a closed-door meeting to discuss bilateral relations between Malaysia and China and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Anwar is also expected to host a luncheon for Li and his Chinese delegation before departing for Shangri-la Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. Li will also have an audience with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia today.
Both Anwar and Li will also attend the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) groundbreaking ceremony in Gombak and conclude their schedule today with a dinner celebration for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years since 2009. Last year, total trade with China was valued at RM450.84 billion (US$98.80 billion), contributing to 17.1 per cent of Malaysia's global trade.
To recap, the diplomatic relations between the two nations were established by the Joint Communiqué signed by Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak and Chinese Premier Chou En Lai on May 31.