Malaysia -China relations growing day by day

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim surprised many when he sought closer ties with China after coming to power in 2022 in an effort to boost his country’s flagging economic growth.

But as Chinese Premier Li Qiang visits the south-east Asian country this week, many in Kuala Lumpur wonder whether Beijing is reciprocating those efforts.

The two countries will sign a memorandum of understanding on Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative and a long-delayed five-year economic co-operation plan during Li’s three-day visit, which begins on Tuesday, according to people familiar with the preparations.

But the absence of President Xi Jinping, who sent number-two official Li in his place, has dejected some in the government in Kuala Lumpur, according to Malaysian officials and political observers. “Anwar has gone out of his way to satisfy them, and what are we getting for that?” asked a person close to the Malaysian prime minister. Another person familiar with the talks said there had been “initial disappointment”.

Anwar, initially viewed by some political observers as pro-western, has encouraged warmer relations with Beijing, a stance that has made Malaysia the most pro-China among the rival claimants in the South China Sea.