While meeting with Najib, Chinese President Hu Jintao said China and Malaysia have seen their relations develop smoothly over the past 35 years. They have had frequent high-level visits, enjoyed increasing political mutual trust and carried out fruitful cooperation in the fields of trade, energy, infrastructure and culture. They have also maintained close coordination on such issues as promoting East Asian regional cooperation and addressing the international financial crisis, he said.

With regard to the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Wen told Najib that China and Malaysia should beef up dialogue and cooperation and properly handle relevant issues in a joint effort to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The Declaration on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea should be strictly observed, he said. The document, signed by China and ASEAN in 2002, is the first political document they have concluded on the South China Sea issue.

During his visit, Najib also met with Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang. Both vowed to create a bright future for China-Malaysia relations. He and Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu attended a business forum aimed at fostering strong ties between the two countries' business communities.

During Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's visit, China and Malaysia signed a joint action plan on strategic cooperation, charting the course for their cooperation in the fields of politics, the economy, culture, education, science and technology, and energy.

The 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia and the signing of the joint action plan present opportunities for the development of the two countries' relations, said Chinese President Hu Jintao. China is ready to take these opportunities to expand and upgrade its cooperation with Malaysia on both bilateral and multilateral levels and work for an even better future for China-Malaysia relations.

Najib said the joint action plan is a fundamental strategic framework. Relevant departments in the two countries will implement the action plan in a bid to deepen the two countries' cooperation in various fields. Malaysia will attract more Chinese investment as well, he added.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)