Pioneering partners
China DailyJIN DING/CHINA DAILY The strong relationship between China and Malaysia can be a catalyst for advancing a more stable and representative world order. In 1974, Chairman Mao Zedong and then Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein convened in Beijing to formally establish diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia. Mahathir Mohamad, the Malaysian prime minister at that time, recognized China's potential as an emerging economic power and sought to strengthen economic ties. Through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the East Asia Summit, South-South cooperation and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Malaysia has supported China's active participation, recognizing the mutual benefits of such engagement in promoting economic growth, regional stability, and development cooperation. China and Malaysia must continue to champion open trade and economic cooperation to counter rising economic nationalism.