ISTANBUL

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that Beijing is ready to cooperate with Malaysia in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), new energy, and digital economy.

Wang made the remarks during his meeting with Nushirwan bin Zainal Abidin, director-general of Malaysia's National Security Council, in Beijing, according to the state-run Xinhua News.

China is willing to work together with Malaysia to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, “deepen political and security cooperation, push for more outcomes in practical cooperation, and continuously elevate strategic cooperation between the two countries,” Wang said.

He said that Beijing stands ready to tap the potential for cooperation with Malaysia in cutting-edge fields such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence and new energy, and to work with Malaysia to “build a regional highland for cooperation on new quality productive forces.”

The Chinese minister urged both sides to “make full use of the dialogue platform for maritime issues, promote substantive and in-depth cooperation, and manage and handle differences properly.”

He also called for “strengthening solidarity and coordination, upholding the multilateral trading system, and injecting more stability into the world economy.”

Wang expressed his appreciation for Malaysia’s adherence to the “one-China principle,” adding that the two sides should “provide mutual support to safeguard their respective core interests, and work together to defend international fairness and justice.”

For his part, Nushirwan, who is in China to attend the second bilateral dialogue between China and Malaysia on the management of maritime issues in the South China Sea, said that Malaysia cherishes its friendship with China.

Nushirwan said that the two sides should enhance multilateral coordination and jointly safeguard peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.

China and Malaysia have maintained ties since 1974, with bilateral trade totalling $212 billion in 2024.