STRENGTHENING TIES: Wen holds up his hand in greeting as he poses for a photo with Najib at the latter’s office at Putra Perdana. — Bernama photo
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Malaysia and China share a lot of things in common although the two countries are separated by a significant geographical distance.
He said, for example, both aimed to develop their economies for the benefit of their citizens.
Najib said the closeness of Malaysia-China relations could be illustrated by the Chinese proverb ‘Within the four seas, all men are brothers’.
He said this at a luncheon held in honour of visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at his official residence, Seri Perdana, here yesterday.
Also present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Seri Noorainee Abdul Rahman.
Najib congratulated Wen for his astute leadership and reforms that the Chinese government had undertaken to turn China into economic powerhouse that it was today.
“I’m confident that China would provide a very strong impetus towards global economic growth,” he said, adding that East Asia would continue to be a vibrant economic zone in the future.
Najib also alluded to Wen’s insistence that his mother, Toh Puan Rahah Mohd Noah, attend the informal dinner last night.
“It indicates how much you value the historical perspective in terms of our bilateral relations which began in 1974 when my late father (Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, Malaysia’s second prime minister) made his historic journey to Beijing,” said Najib.
He said that ties between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing had developed by leaps and bounds since then.
“I don’t think that my late father at that time could have envisaged how the single decision he made in 1974 has enabled the relationship to develop to the extent that we all can witness today,” Najib said.
He also pointed out that Muhyiddin and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman had just returned from a visit to China.
“More visits at all levels between the two sides would certainly reinforce this strategic and important relationship,” he added. — Bernama