PUTRAJAYA, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, will be undertaking an Official Visit to the People’s Republic of China from 31 October to 6 November 2016 at the invitation of the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Li Keqiang. During the visit to China, YAB Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Beijing, Tianjin, Gu’an and Zhangjiakou. YAB Prime Minister will be accompanied by YABhg. Datin Sri Rosmah Mansor, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, YB Dato’ Sri Anifah Aman, and other cabinet ministers, chief ministers, as well as senior government officials from the relevant ministries and agencies.
 
YAB Prime Minister’s visit programme in Beijing includes an official welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and a dinner hosted by Premier Li in honour of YAB Prime Minister and the Malaysian delegation on 1 November 2016. YAB Prime Minister will call on Chinese President Xi Jinping on 3 November 2016 followed by a dinner hosted by President Xi and Madam Peng Liyuan in honour of YAB Prime Minister and YABhg. Datin Sri Rosmah Mansor at the Diaoyutai State Guest House. YAB Prime Minister will also receive courtesy calls from the Chairman of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Zhang Dejiang, and other prominent provincial leaders.
 
In the meeting between YAB Prime Minister and Chinese leaders, issues that are expected to be discussed include bilateral cooperation in the field of education, defence, agriculture, trade and investment, tourism and culture, science and technology, and people-to-people contacts. Several Government-to-Government memoranda of understanding and documents are set to be signed or exchanged. The signing and exchange of the documents will be witnessed by both YAB Prime Minister and Premier Li.
 
Besides the bilateral meeting, YAB Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with prominent Malaysian and Chinese business leaders, and deliver an address at the Malaysia-China Business Forum Luncheon. YAB Prime Minister will witness the exchange of several Business-to-Business memoranda and agreements between Malaysian and Chinese enterprises. During the visit, YAB Prime Minister will also meet with the Malaysian community and students in China.
 
The vibrant exchange of visits at all levels between Malaysia and China has been an important agenda in strengthening the bonds of friendship; it includes the Official Visit of YAB Prime Minister to China in 2014, and the Official Visit of Premier Li Keqiang to Malaysia on 23 November 2015 in conjuction with the 10^th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur. This upcoming visit will also be the third official visit by YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak to China since 2009.
 
Malaysia and China continue to enjoy close and cordial bilateral relations and cooperation in key areas such as politics, economy and trade, defence and security under the Strategic Comprehensive Partnership. China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009. Malaysia is China’s eighth largest trading partner worldwide and the largest trading partner, the largest source of imports and the second largest export destination among ASEAN countries.
 
Trade with China accounted for 15.8% of Malaysia’s total trade in 2015, amounting to USD59.12 billion (RM230.89 billion). For the period January-August 2016, total trade with China increased by 1.4% to USD36.59 billion (RM149.33 billion) as compared to the same period in 2015. Total exports decreased by 9.6% to USD14.45 billion (RM58.93 billion), while total imports grew 10.0% to USD22.15 billion (RM90.40 billion) for the same period.
 
Malaysia is optimistic that this visit will stregthen the existing friendly ties between Malaysia and China not only in the areas of bilateral cooperation but also on regional and international issues.
 
SOURCE : Ministry of Foreign Affairs

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name : Azreey Abu Kasim
Assistant Director
Department of Communications and Public Diplomacy
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Email : azreey@kln.gov.my

--BERNAMA