Beijing — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will visit China next week, Beijing said on Friday.
The visit will take place from Monday to Thursday, Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing.
Anwar was elected in 2022 and has visited China twice since then, describing the country as “a great friend” as he sought to deepen ties with Malaysia’s top trading partner.
But the two also hold competing claims in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety.
At the invitation of the Chinese side, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will pay a state visit to China from November 4 to 7, Chinese FM spokesperson Lin Jian announced on Friday. pic.twitter.com/mNP2BuFf5e
— China News 中国新闻网 (@Echinanews) November 1, 2024
Anwar in September insisted that Malaysia will press on with oil and gas exploration in the disputed South China Sea, after a leaked document showed opposition from Beijing.
In the diplomatic note – published by a Philippine news website – China demanded that Malaysia stop all oil and gas activities off Sarawak state on Borneo island.
Beijing in the note accused Malaysia of encroaching on Chinese territory.
That same month, Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar visited Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
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Source: AFP
Picture: X/@anwaribrahim
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