Chairman Jia Qinglin of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) meets with Malaysian Supreme Head of State Sirajuddin in Kuala Lumpur

On March 29, 2006, Chairman Jia Qinglin of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) met with Malaysian Supreme Head of State Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin in Kuala Lumpur. Jia conveyed the greetings from President Hu Jintao to Sirajuddin and Sirajuddin extended warm welcome for Jia's visit and asked Jia to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to Hu.

Jia said that both countries are close friendly neighbors and the friendly exchanges between the two peoples go back to ancient times. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties over 30 years ago, bilateral relations have been developing smoothly. Last October, Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi signed the Joint Communiqué between the two countries, pushing development of bilateral relations to a new level. Both sides have witnessed increasingly active exchanges at all level, steadily expanded cooperation areas, richer connotation of bilateral relations and deepened traditional friendship. Bilateral economic and trade cooperation has scored remarkable achievements and the bilateral trade volume last year reached 30.7 billion US dollars, an increase of 16.9% over the same period of the year before. China has become Malaysia's fourth largest trading partner and both sides have also maintained sound coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs.

Jia noted that both sides are developing nations and share broad common interest. China attaches great importance to developing bilateral relations and would like to work with Malaysia to further strengthen mutual political trust, expand economic and trade cooperation and jointly push bilateral strategic cooperation for all-round, in-depth development. China would like to keep closer tourist cooperation with Malaysia and push for sound and orderly development of tourism in the two countries. Both sides should continuously expand educational exchanges and support dispatching more young students to study in each other. Both sides should also actively implement their Agreement on Agricultural Cooperation, strengthen cooperation in key areas and bring more benefits to both peoples. Jia believed that with joint efforts of both sides, bilateral relations will surely make greater progress and mutually beneficial cooperation will necessarily bear more fruits.

Sirajuddin said that the leaders of both sides have maintained close contact, which has pushed for steady development of bilateral friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas. Malaysia is satisfied with sound development of bilateral relations. China is an Asian country of great significance, as well as Malaysia's friendly neighbor and both countries pursue the foreign policy of peace, actively advocate regional cooperation and share lots of common ground. Malaysia has always attached great importance to relations with China and would like to continue strengthening exchanges and cooperation with China in the areas of politics, economy & trade, education and tourism and push for further development of bilateral relations.

After concluding his official goodwill visit to Indonesia, at the invitation of Speaker Tan Sri Dr. Abdul Hamid bin Pawanteh of the Upper House of the Malaysian Parliament, Jia arrived in Kuala Lumpur by special plane on March 28, kicking off his official goodwill visit to Malaysia. Jia delivered a written speech at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, indicating that he looked forward to meeting with Malaysian leaders to exchange in-depth views on bilateral relations and issues of common interest in a bid to jointly consolidate bilateral traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and push for progress of bilateral relations.

Jia's main companions arrived in the same plane. Deputy Speaker Wong Foon Meng of the Upper House of the Malaysian Parliament and other Malaysian officials, as well as Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Wang Chungui and the staff of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia welcomed him at the airport. When Jia left Jakarta, First Vice Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly of Indonesia and other Indonesian officials, as well as Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Lan Lijun and the staff of the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia saw him off at the airport.

On the evening of the same day, Jia attended the welcome banquet held by Speaker Hamid.