Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, delivers a speech in Kuala Lumpur on May 30, 2005.

With concerted efforts, the China-Malaysia relationship based on traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation is bound to embrace an even better future, visiting top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo said Monday.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, made the remarks when delivering a speech titled "Deepening Good-neighborly Friendship in A Joint Effort for Asian Prosperity," in Kuala Lumpur.

Recalling a long history of the profound friendship between the two close neighbors, Wu said that 600 years ago, Zheng He, a Chinese envoy in the Ming Dynasty, made seven expeditions to the seas to the Southwest of China and landed in Malacca for five times, leaving many well-known stories in the annuals of China- Malaysia friendly relations.

Leaders of the older generation from both countries realized the normalization of China-Malaysia relations 31 years ago in light of the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the long- term strategies of the two countries, he said, adding that Malaysia became the first country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to establish diplomatic relations with China, thus not only ushering in a new phase in China-Malaysia friendship, but also creating favorable conditions for the development of China-ASEAN relations.

"Over the past 31 years since mutual diplomatic recognition, China-Malaysia friendship has stood the test of time and international vicissitudes, becoming a common asset of our two peoples," Wu said. He made the speech at the invitation of Malaysia's foreign ministry.

The two countries have trusted and supported each other politically, pursued common economic development through mutually beneficial and reciprocal cooperation, and conducted dynamic exchanges and cooperation in various areas, all contributing to the steady growth in bilateral relations, he observed.

"Upon the 30th anniversary of our diplomatic relations last year, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi paid a successful visit to China, during which he reached important consensus with the Chinese leaders on pushing forward China-Malaysia strategic cooperation, charting the course for the deepening of our relations," he said.

Malaysian Supreme Head of State Syed Sirajuddin's state visit to China in March further promoted the traditional friendship between the two countries, he added.

"We have been heartened by the visible results and sound momentum in our economic cooperation and trade which has lent an inexhaustible impetus to the development of our relations," Wu said.

During the years between 1990 and 2004, two-way trade rose by 21 times to 26.26 billion US dollars last year. Malaysia has become a major trading partner of China among ASEAN countries.

With the current momentum sustained, Wu said, annual two-way trade is expected to reach or even exceed 50 billion US dollars by 2010.

China is a major importer of Malaysian electronic products, palm oil and rubber. Bilateral cooperation in such identified key areas as agriculture, hi-tech, resource development and infrastructure is on the upswing. Bilateral cooperation in tourism and education is also expanding rapidly.

As developing countries, China and Malaysia share broad agreement and have maintained good cooperation and coordination on many major international and regional issues, which has contributed to maintaining and promoting the legitimate rights and interests of the developing countries, he said.

On international relations, Wu said, "We both stand for the democratization of international relations, maintaining that people of all countries should decide on their own domestic affairs and international affairs be handled through equal-footed consultations among countries."

"We both advocate respect for the diversity of civilizations, which can complement each other amid competition and comparison and achieve common development by seeking common ground and shelving differences. We share the view that economic globalization should benefit all developing countries and that South-South cooperation, North-South dialogue and regional cooperation should be actively promoted in pursuit of common prosperity," he said.

"Facts have proved that better China-Malaysia relations are in the fundamental interests of our two peoples and conducive to regional peace and prosperity," he said.

China attaches great importance to developing relations with Malaysia. "The purpose of my visit is to further our exchanges and cooperation in all areas and continue to push our relations forward," he added.

Malaysia is the last leg of Wu's four-nation Asia-Pacific tour, which has also taken him to Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

Source: Xinhua