Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim commenced a significant three-day working visit to China on Tuesday, aimed at enhancing bilateral relations and fostering cooperation in trade and emerging technologies. Anwar, also serving as Malaysia’s finance minister, is visiting the cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou during his trip.
On his agenda is a key meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Hangzhou, scheduled for Thursday. This high-level discussion is expected to focus on strengthening economic ties between the two countries. Anwar’s visit underscores the importance of the long-standing trade relationship, with China being Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years. Between January and August this year, bilateral trade reached an impressive US$113.82 billion.
While in Shanghai, Anwar is set to participate in the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 event, where he will deliver a keynote address at the WorldSkills Conference. His visit will also include attending the Fifth Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, where Malaysia has been honored as one of the Guest Countries. These engagements are aimed at spotlighting the potential for collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence and digital trade.
Anwar is also taking the opportunity to meet with Chinese business and technology leaders. These interactions are part of a broader effort to attract increased foreign investment into Malaysia, further solidifying the economic bond between the two nations.