MALAYSIA and Singapore discussed bilateral relations and cooperation during their visits to China, as they’re going to attend the Boao Forum.
Leaders from many countries around the globe are heading to China for the annual Boao Forum, including the prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore.
Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in China to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023 (BFA 2023) as part of his four-day official visit to China.
Before they attended the Boao Forum, the two leaders had discussed bilateral relations and cooperation between Malaysia and Singapore during their visits to China.
At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the prime ministers of Singapore, Malaysia, and Spain will pay official visits to China on the margins of the annual conference.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anwar shared Malaysia’s philosophy when addressing challenges in an uncertain world at the opening session of the Boao Forum.
“The theme ‘An Uncertain World: Solidarity and Cooperation for Development amid Challenges’ is most apt and relevant given the extraordinary ebb and flow of the state of geopolitics and power as well as geo-economics which we now live in,” according to the Malaysian Prime Minister.
Anwar also said he was happy to know that his participation in Boao Forum this year coincides with the 10th anniversary of the elevation of the Malaysia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2013.
Anwar shared his thoughts on ways to achieve solidarity and cooperation for development amid challenges, citing six core values of Malaysia, which are “sustainability, prosperity, innovation, respect, trust, and compassion”.
And that competition is inevitable in Asia and beyond but stressed that cooperation is more important.
He cited the ongoing competition in the semiconductor industry, reiterating that while countries always seek to protect their intellectual property rights (IPR) and try to stay ahead of the competition, they have to work together to ensure that the competition does not lead to bifurcation in the technological world.
And regarding uncertainties in the relationship between nations’ geopolitical conflicts and economic rivalry, Anwar urged guests present in the forum not to forget the ordinary citizens with the burden of having to put food on the table and the tangible and pressing uncertainties faced.
Before Singapore and Malaysia, leaders from other ASEAN members like Vietnam, the Philippines, and Cambodia also visited China in the past few months.
