In 2013, relations between the People's Republic of China and Malaysia developed steadily in all fields and their exchanges and cooperation in various fields were upgraded to a new high.

The two countries saw frequent exchange of high-level visits. In October, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Malaysia. The two sides agreed to elevate China-Malaysia strategic cooperative relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, bringing the relationship to a track of comprehensive and mature development. In the same month, Premier Li Keqiang met with Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohammad Najib on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Brunei. In February, CPPCC Chairman Jia Qinglin paid an official goodwill visit to Malaysia. In November, Sun Chunlan, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee, visited Malaysia. In August, Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid an official visit to Malaysia. In June, former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad came to China for the First China-South Asia Expo and Vice Premier Ma Kai met with him.

Economic cooperation and trade produced fruitful results. China was Malaysia's biggest trading partner for four consecutive years. And Malaysia was China's largest trading partner among ASEAN countries for five years in a row. In February, the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park was officially launched. In October, the two governments signed the Five Year Program for Economic and Trade Cooperation 2013-2017, the Agreement on the Establishment of the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park and the Agreed Minutes on the Establishment of Joint Cooperation Council on China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park and Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park Between the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. The Penang Second Bridge undertaken by a Chinese company was completed.

The two countries saw deepened people-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation. In February, Xiamen University and New Sunshine Group of Malaysia signed an agreement on setting up a Malaysian campus of Xiamen University. In the same month, a Chinese enterprise signed an agreement with a Malaysian enterprise, deciding to jointly produce a large live-action outdoor show Impression Malacca, which would stay in Malaysia for performances on a long-term basis. In October, the two governments signed the Agreement on Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation.