KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening Malaysia-China ties, describing it as a "vital relationship".
"Fifty years ago today, Malaysia and China reshaped the landscape of Asian geopolitics," Anwar said in a Facebook post.
"On May 31, 1974, our two nations embarked on a groundbreaking journey by establishing diplomatic relations," he said, adding Malaysia was the first non-socialist Southeast Asian country to do so.
Anwar said despite ideological and seemingly irreconcilable differences, the leaders of both countries at the time took a bold leap of faith in establishing diplomatic ties.
"This audacious move has blossomed into a rich and fruitful partnership."
"The Madani government is committed to nurturing this vital relationship for the prosperity of our peoples and the entire region.
"I eagerly anticipate the official visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Malaysia as we celebrate this historic milestone."
Diplomatic and economic ties with China have grown from strength to strength in recent years.
Since 2009, China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner. Last year, Malaysia's trade with China stood at RM450.8 billion
