China’s rise will be good for the region, says

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Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

PMKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia sees China as a very close partner and believes its rise as a new economic power in the world will be good for the region, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“But we notice that it’s a new China, because it’s a fact that they are more assertive than before,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg TV, on his achievements after two years in office, which was aired yesterday.

Najib, however, said Malaysia believed that China would not want to do something that would undermine the peace and stability of the region as it was quite focused on becoming an economic power in the world.

“They will continue to want good relations with Malaysia, with Asean, with East Asia. We are basically very, very optimistic about the future of this region,” he said.

On the United States navy’s role in the Pacific going forward as China continues its economic rise, the prime minister said America would always be a Pacific power and committed to be a part of this region.

“We see a kind of equilibrium in terms of the major powers in the region. As long as there’s a nice equilibrium, I’m optimistic that there will be peace and prosperity, and that this region will continue to lead global growth in the future,” he said. — Bernama