HAINAN: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made a pitch for China to reinvigorate its Belt and Road Initiative by urging collaboration among countries.
“Translating lofty ideals into practical reality, solidarity and cooperation is best exemplified in the realisation of the Belt and Road Initiative,” he said at the Boao Forum for Asia 2023 here today.
“With the pandemic behind us, we should try to regain its momentum.”
Anwar’s call for revival of China’s infrastructure collaboration with developing nations marks Malaysia’s efforts to reengage with the world’s second-biggest economy, which emerged from the pandemic late last year.
He said countries must prevent competition in the technology and semiconductor industries from raising costs and obstructing progress, as nations seek to protect their intellectual property rights and stay ahead of rivals.
“Let me reiterate that unfettered competition must give way to spirited collaboration,” he said.
Anwar is on a four-day official visit to China, the first by a Malaysian leader since former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s trip in April 2019.
The foreign ministry yesterday said Anwar will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of efforts to reinvigorate relations in the post-pandemic era.
China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner since 2009, and total trade between the two nations reached RM487.1 billion in 2022.
China was also the top investor in Malaysia last year, contributing 21% of the RM264.6 billion investments the country approved in 2022.