THE 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China featured activities and an exchange of high-level official visits, including by the prime ministers of both countries and the King.
It culminated with a bang this past week.
The Malaysia-China Summit from Dec 17 to 19 in Kuala Lumpur saw a parade of half a dozen Malaysian ministers addressing those in attendance.
It ended with a dinner attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who was not shy about telling those around him, including the Chinese ambassador, of his own part-Chinese heritage.
That China is front and centre in the economic sphere in Malaysia is underscored by the ministers and others from the private sector who spoke in the panel discussions and other related events at the summit.
I am particularly struck by what Transport Minister Anthony Loke said following his address.
He detailed transportation-related government projects under construction or planned, including the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).
It is a project that was largely initiated under China's Belt and Road Initiative and it will link the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia to Port Klang on the west coast when completed.
Loke announced later that China has agreed that should the project make losses after its completion, both nations will equally absorb them.
This should allay concerns that China is interested in the ECRL only as a construction project and cares little about its economic success.
The hope of many countries that pin their aspirations for economic advancement on the coat-tails of China's economic rise must be that it cares at least as much as them that economic risk factors are adequately assessed, especially in capital-intensive infrastructure projects China undertakes and finances in other countries.
Another panellist gingerly made the wish that Chinese buyers of our palm oil will, in the future, care not just about obtaining the lowest price but also that the oil is responsibly and sustainably produced.
Coincidentally, Proton's first electric car developed with Chinese technology was launched a day prior to the business summit.
In today's world, business success will increasingly be measured by genuine commitments to sustainability.
China's edge in electric-vehicle production must power its and our sustainability journeys.
The new year should be used by Malaysia, as the Asean chair, not only to beat a path forward as we did 50 years ago diplomatically, but also economically, by engaging China with Asean.
This has to be a two-way street, with China hopefully acting as much as a leader as it is a listener, respecting the interests and concerns of others as it expects the same for itself.
The bilateral relationship between Malaysia and China has evolved from its diplomatic breakthrough in 1974 into a robust economic and strategic partnership.
To strengthen it further, all aspects must remain open to healthy discussion and review.
The elephant in the room in our relationship with China — disputes over maritime borders — must be judiciously addressed and if understanding and agreement remain elusive, an independent third-party dispute resolution mechanism should be the way forward.
*The writer views developments in the nation, region and the wider world from his vantage point in Kuching
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times