Chinese leader Jia Qinglin said Wednesday that China-Malaysia relations have entered a new era of development as the two countries are both working on advancing bilateral strategic cooperation.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), arrived in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday evening for a six-day official goodwill visit at the invitation of President of the Senate of Malaysia Abdul Hamid Pawanteh.

Jia met with Malaysian Supreme Head of State Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Wednesday. During the meeting, Jia conveyed the greeting from Chinese President Hu Jintao to Sirajuddin, while Sirajuddin warmly welcomed him to visit Malaysia and ask him to convey greetings to President Hu Jintao.

Jia said both China and Malaysia are important developing countries in Asia, and China places great importance on developing relations with Malaysia and is ready to further enhance political trust, expand trade and economic cooperation, and deepen and advance the strategic cooperation with Malaysia in an all-round way.

Noting that China has become the fourth largest trade partner of Malaysia, Jia said China is willing to expand cooperation with Malaysia in such fields as tourism, education and agriculture. He expressed the belief that under joint efforts of the two countries, mutually beneficial cooperation will surely bear more fruits.

Sirajuddin said the close contact among leaders of the two countries has helped advance bilateral relations and cooperation in a constant way, adding that since both countries are important Asian countries and friendly neighbors, they have a lot in common such as pursuing peaceful foreign policy and advocating regional cooperation.

Sirajuddin said Malaysia has always placed importance on relations with China and is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in such fields as politics, trade, economy, education and tourism.

Malaysia is the third leg of Jia's three-nation Southeast Asia tour, which also brought him to Vietnam and Indonesia.

Source: Xinhua