China and Malaysia are due to ink economic pacts as visiting Premier Li meets with Anwar

Kuala lumpur — Chinese Premier Li Qiang is set to talk Wednesday with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, with their countries due to ink cooperation pacts on digital economy and green development as they celebrate a half-century of diplomatic relations.

Li, the first Chinese premier to visit Malaysia since 2015, flew in late Tuesday from Australia to a red carpet welcome. Upon his arrival, Li said the two nations’ 50-year anniversary was a new starting point to deepen links and increase exchanges.

“China is advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development. Malaysia, on its part, is promoting national development under the vision of Malaysia MADANI. China is ready to work with Malaysia,” Li said in a statement published by the national Bernama news agency.

Li, China’s No. 2 leader after President Xi Jinping, last week also became the first Chinese premier to visit New Zealand and then Australia in seven years.

Li was given an official welcoming ceremony at Malaysia’s government capital of Putrajaya before private talks with Anwar. While trade is expected to dominate, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hassan has said the prickly issue of territorial claims in South China Sea was also likely to be raised.