Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's presence at the just-concluded 2014 APEC summit in Beijing, China, succeeded not only in wooing other leaders to work together to make the Asia Pacific the most dynamic region of the world but to ensure that Malaysia and China, the host country for this year's APEC, remain partners in prosperity and peace.
For those who have closely followed the evolution of Malaysia-China relations over these decades, one cannot deny the fact that the relations have indeed blossomed beyond expectation.
Among the many bilateral meetings held, Najib's described his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang as most special.
"We received special attention because among the heads of states, I was the only one who had the privilege to meet both of them," he was quoted as saying.
A solid diplomatic foundation has been established between the two countries, thus, opening wider and deeper opportunities to further build upon the achievements of the last 40 years.
During a bilateral meeting with Najib on the sidelines of the APEC Summit, Xi described Malaysia as an intimate friend and a trustworthy partner.
This showed that the building of mutual trust and confidence, coupled with deepening economic collaboration had further boosted ties between both nations.
And, as with economic relations deepening and further reforms unlocked, it created further cooperative opportunities, as well as, strengthened diplomatic ties and soaring bilateral trade.
The 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between both countries was an amazing chapter in the history, and the excellent relationship enjoyed by both sides should be turned into a model of relationship between two countries, Xi was quoted as saying.
In fact, Xi said the relationship between both countries has been upgraded to a higher level and similar sentiment was echoed by Li.
A wide range of issues were discussed between Najib and the two leaders with greater emphasis placed on several key areas including approaches to handle the South China Sea issue, the missing MH370 aircraft, the funding for the construction of Xiamen University Malaysia campus and the establishment of
closer defence cooperation between both countries.
In a meeting with Li, the Chinese premier told Najib that China would support the construction of the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park and Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park, as well as, continue encouraging Chinese enterprises to invest in Malaysia.
Li also expressed China's willingness to actively participate in the railway construction in Malaysia, to deepen financial cooperation with Malaysia as both countries had just signed a renminbi clearing settlement agreement during Najib's visit, a pact that will bolster the latter's position as a gateway for RMB flows into Southeast Asia.
The clearing bank will mean reduced cost and ease of doing business between the two countries as payments can be made in RMB, and thus do away with the current need to first convert payments into US dollars.
This is also consistent with Malaysia and China's efforts to achieve US$160 billion worth of trade by 2017. Last year, the two-way figure stood at US$106 billion.
This designated clearing bank will be a catalyst to support rapid growth in bilateral trade, investment and financial flows between Malaysia and China.
Besides becoming a strategic component in Malaysia's financial system and infrastructure, the clearing bank would also allow for a significant pooling of RMB liquidity to meet the financing needs of the local financial institutions and businesses.
"I am confident that Malaysian financial institutions will be able to utilise this advantage to pursue greater use of RMB to facilitate greater regional trade and investment in their extensive network in Asean, thus
strengthening Malaysia's position as a gateway for RMB flows in the Asean region," Najib said.
Meanwhile, the presence of world leaders in Beijing for the APEC Summit gave China a platform to lobby for a bigger leadership role, as well as, emerge as one of the world's next superpower.
As evident, on the eve of the gathering, Beijing announced a free-trade agreement with South Korea, followed by regulators approving a plan to open Chinese stock markets wider to foreign investors by linking exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
And, at the summit, China, being the second largest economy in the world, was promoting its own regional free-trade pact, despite US pressure to make progress in other initiatives.
It is the first time Beijing has taken the lead to promote a multinational trade agreement.
In addition, not to forget, China's willingness to organise the APEC summit for the first time after 2001 really showed that the country was ready to take on any challenge as it viewed this as a mission entrusted by the countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific, which also showed their trust in China.
To recap, in order to ensure the APEC summit would go on without any hitches, Beijing imposed a series of measures to combat its notorious pollution, including traffic restrictions, factory closures and a six-day holiday for public sector workers.
An APEC official said: "All APEC members look to this year’s event for consensus and real breakthroughs in regional integration. They look to the Asia-Pacific region for maintaining prosperity and development and driving world economic recovery and growth.
"And, they look to China, the second largest economy in the world, for leveraging its role as host to make fresh contributions to APEC’s development and Asia-Pacific’s revitalisation".
The modern Beijing has developed into a metropolis with rich cultural heritage, sound industrial structure, cutting-edge technology and friendly relations with cities from APEC economies and region across the world.
Beijing was the host of the 29th Summer Olympics in 2008 and currently, it is working hard to implement the strategy of "People's Beijing, Hi-tech Beijing and Green Beijing" and to build itself into a world-class harmonious and liveable city. - Azlina Aziz
Bernama
Sat Nov 15 2014
![Malaysia-China relations blossoming beyond expectation Malaysia-China relations blossoming beyond expectation](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-11/51415669857_295x200.jpg)
Najib's described his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang as most special. - BERNAMA Photo
Jiwa SME: Kuih tradisonal sejuk beku 'diterbangkan' ke Tanah Suci
Inovasi pembuatan makanan sejuk beku, terutama kuih muih tradisional telah berjaya membawa produk itu ke peringkat global, terutama dalam memenuhi citarasa jemaah haji dan umrah rakyat Malaysia di Tanah Suci Mekah dan Madinah.
![Gol sulung Mbappe bantu Real Madrid juarai Piala Super UEFA Gol sulung Mbappe bantu Real Madrid juarai Piala Super UEFA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723679998_KylianMbappe.jpg)
Gol sulung Mbappe bantu Real Madrid juarai Piala Super UEFA
"Ia adalah malam yang hebat. Ia adalah detik yang hebat untuk saya. Dan kami memenangi kejuaraan, yang penting - di Madrid anda perlu sentiasa menang."
![“I love you Am, bahagialah di syurga firdausi” - Aufahanie “I love you Am, bahagialah di syurga firdausi” - Aufahanie](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723679258_AufahanieNidzaAfh.jpg)
“I love you Am, bahagialah di syurga firdausi” - Aufahanie
Air mata Aufahanie sudah kering meratapi pemergian abang tercinta, Nidza Afham yang ditemui meninggal dunia selepas dilaporkan hilang.
Konsert jelajah: Taylor Swift teruskan konsert London selepas ancaman keganasan
Taylor Swift akan meneruskan persembahan di London pada Khamis, meneruskan jelajah konsert terbesar dunia di tengah-tengah kebimbangan keselamatan susulan cubaan serangan Daesh memaksa pembatalan tarikh konsert di Vienna, minggu lalu.
Taliban rai ulang tahun ketiga pemerintahan Afghanistan
Kerajaan Taliban semalam meraikan ulang tahun ketiga pemerintahannya di Afghanistan dengan perarakan tentera yang memberi penghormatan kepada bom buatan sendiri yang digunakan ketika peperangan, pesawat pejuang dan perbarisan pasukan keselamatan.
![Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723677980_MounirNasraoui.jpg)
Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan
Mounir Nasraoui, bapa kepada Lamine Yamal, ditikam pada lewat Rabu di tempat letak kereta di bandar Mataro di timur laut Sepanyol.
Warga AS dihukum penjara 15 hari di Rusia kerana bersikap samseng
Mahkamah Moscow menjatuhkan hukuman penjara 15 hari kepada warga Amerika Syarikat Joseph Tater pada Rabu kerana bersikap samseng.
Putin anggap rundingan dengan Ukraine tidak berguna
Presiden Rusia Vladimir Putin menyifatkan, tindakan Ukraine yang menyerang orang awam memperlihatkan keengganan Kyiv menyelesaikan konflik peperangan dua negara dengan cara perdamaian.
Fadillah tiba di Peru, hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof tiba Lima, Peru bagi menghadiri Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Tenaga (EMM) di bawah Kerjasama Ekonomi Asia Pasifik (APEC) yang berlangsung selama dua hari.
BNM denda Maybank RM4.32 juta, CIMB RM760,000 berikutan gangguan perkhidmatan berpanjangan
Bank Negara Malaysia mengenakan Penalti Monetari Pentadbiran (AMP) sebanyak RM4.32 juta ke atas Malayan Banking Bhd dan Maybank Islamic Bhd serta RM760,000 ke atas CIMB Bank Bhd dan CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd susulan gangguan beberapa perkhidmatan perbankan yang berpanjangan.
![Gyeongju, Korea Selatan dipilih sebagai tuan rumah Sidang Kemuncak APEC 2025 Gyeongju, Korea Selatan dipilih sebagai tuan rumah Sidang Kemuncak APEC 2025](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-02/81645047921_APECAsiaPacific.jpg)
Gyeongju, Korea Selatan dipilih sebagai tuan rumah Sidang Kemuncak APEC 2025
Jawatankuasa Persediaan untuk Sidang Kemuncak APEC memilih Gyeongju sebagai lokasi untuk sidang kemuncak yang dijadualkan pada November.
![Pertumbuhan ekonomi rantau APEC dijangka cecah 3.4 peratus pada 2024 - Laporan Pertumbuhan ekonomi rantau APEC dijangka cecah 3.4 peratus pada 2024 - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-02/81645047921_APECAsiaPacific.jpg)
Pertumbuhan ekonomi rantau APEC dijangka cecah 3.4 peratus pada 2024 - Laporan
Pertumbuhan ekonomi di negara-negara Kerjasama Ekonomi Asia Pasifik (APEC) dijangka mencecah 3.4 peratus pada 2024 dan perlahan kepada 2.9 peratus pada 2025-2026.
![APEC harus tetapkan gaji minimum - MITI APEC harus tetapkan gaji minimum - MITI](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/51716048436_FBCHINTONG.jpg)
APEC harus tetapkan gaji minimum - MITI
Kerjasama Ekonomi Asia Pasifik (APEC) harus secara kolektif mewujudkan penetapan gaji standard untuk mencegah kadar gaji tidak sesuai yang memberi kesan kepada golongan wanita.
![APEC 2024: Mesyuarat pertama ABAC tumpu keresahan akibat pemecahan ekonomi global APEC 2024: Mesyuarat pertama ABAC tumpu keresahan akibat pemecahan ekonomi global](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/41708080918_JuliaTorreblanca.jpg)
APEC 2024: Mesyuarat pertama ABAC tumpu keresahan akibat pemecahan ekonomi global
Mesyuarat pertama ABAC 2024 beri tumpuan kepada keresahan yang mendalam berkenaan tekanan daripada pemecahan ekonomi global.
![APEC tidak boleh goyah dalam menyokong kerjasama ekonomi - Tengku Zafrul APEC tidak boleh goyah dalam menyokong kerjasama ekonomi - Tengku Zafrul](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/41706532911_Zafrul.jpg)
APEC tidak boleh goyah dalam menyokong kerjasama ekonomi - Tengku Zafrul
Katanya, platform tersebut mesti meningkatkan manfaat perjanjian perdagangan pelbagai hala.
![Dunia perlu agenda perubahan, capai kejayaan bersama - MITI Dunia perlu agenda perubahan, capai kejayaan bersama - MITI](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/51693126110_TBLIEWCHINTONG.jpg)
Dunia perlu agenda perubahan, capai kejayaan bersama - MITI
Dunia memerlukan agenda perdagangan baharu yang tidak terikat dengan klise lama.
![APEC 2024: Mesyuarat pertama ABAC tumpu reda tekanan ekonomi serantau APEC 2024: Mesyuarat pertama ABAC tumpu reda tekanan ekonomi serantau](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/61707976418_TBLiewChinTong.jpg)
APEC 2024: Mesyuarat pertama ABAC tumpu reda tekanan ekonomi serantau
Mesyuarat tiga hari bermula semalam menjadi platform dialog kepada usaha untuk meredakan tekanan ekonomi yang melanda rantau ini.
![Anwar kutuk Israel depan Joe Biden Anwar kutuk Israel depan Joe Biden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/71700207989_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Anwar kutuk Israel depan Joe Biden
Anwar menggunakan setiap ruang yang ada pada pertemuan tersebut untuk membangkitkan isu penindasan berterusan terhadap rakyat Gaza.
![PM Anwar laung seruan selamatkan penduduk Gaza, wakili ekonomi pesat membangun di APEC 2023 PM Anwar laung seruan selamatkan penduduk Gaza, wakili ekonomi pesat membangun di APEC 2023](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/41700015584_TBAnwarIbrahim.jpg)
PM Anwar laung seruan selamatkan penduduk Gaza, wakili ekonomi pesat membangun di APEC 2023
Mesej PM di setiap platform mudah dan jelas - pembunuhan dan kekejaman di Gaza perlu dihentikan dan tidak ada pilihan lain lagi.
![Malaysia raih pelaburan bernilai RM63.02 bilion di Amerika Syarikat - Anwar Malaysia raih pelaburan bernilai RM63.02 bilion di Amerika Syarikat - Anwar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/81700298147_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Malaysia raih pelaburan bernilai RM63.02 bilion di Amerika Syarikat - Anwar
Malaysia telah meraih pelaburan sebanyak RM63.02 bilion bagi cadangan pelaburan di Amerika Syarikat (AS) terutamanya daripada syarikat gergasi teknologi, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.