Bai Tian, the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia met with Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad during a conference for the Perdana Leadership Foundation on the 23rd of May, where he promised to improve bilateral relations between both the countries as much as possible. During the conference, Bai Tian praised PM Mahathir and proclaimed that he would always be a well-respected ally of China.
In a long statement, Bai Tian announced that he greatly respected the Prime Minister for his cooperation towards personally improving China-Malaysia relations via the China-ASEAN relations. Following the election of the new government in the country, Tian promised that he would work with the new leading body to better their relations in a “spirit of equality, mutual trust, and mutual benefit.” Bai Tian also commended PM Mahathir for reiterating his support for the Belt and Road initiative which had been invested into by China since the 21st century. He expected that this maritime silk road, if completed, would allow both the countries to utilize their potential to the fullest, and build an ‘Asian Community of Common Destiny’.
In response to those positive words, PM Dr. Mahathir agreed that China had always been a very close ally of Malaysia, and promised that such a relation would never change due to the rise of any new government. Mahathir agreed that China had had immense success in infrastructure building, economic development, and other areas like agricultural production, and stated that Malaysia needed to learn something from the country. PM Mahathir also promised that Malaysia welcomes, and will always welcome Chinese investment to boost their growth of bilateral pragmatic cooperation.