Majid expects more people-to-people exchanges and encourages cooperation in the area of technology, which, he believes, is “something that Malaysia could learn from China.” (Lin Zhuowei)

“When we started our relations in the 1970s, it began at a very low-based or very limited interaction, but today it has become a full-blown relationship anchored on very strong foundations of mutual trust, respect, and friendship”, said Dato Abdul Majid, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association and former Malaysian ambassador to China, in an exclusive interview with China News Network.

51导航2024年是中国和马来西亚建交50周年。值此周年之际，中新网特别采访马来西亚前驻华大使、马中友好协会会长马吉德。马吉德充分肯定了马中两国关系发展50年来取得的巨大发展和合作成就，细数马中正式建交、马来西亚支持中国重返联合国、马来西亚现任总理安瓦尔·易卜拉欣访华、双边免签政策等两国关系的重要时刻。他还表示，“马来西亚在科技领域可多向中国取经”，并对两国在人文、科技领域的合作充满期待。(林卓玮)

He listed a couple of crucial moments in the relationship, such as Malaysia’s support for China to regain its seat in the UN in 1971, the formal establishment of diplomatic relations later on, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit to China, bilateral visa waiver policies, etc.