MULTILATERAL COLLABORATION

Experts believe that the significance of Xi's visit goes beyond bilateral relations. "It will greatly impact ASEAN-China relations, injecting new momentum into regional development and stability," said Ong Tee Keat, president of the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia Pacific.

In the signed article, Xi noted that China was the first ASEAN dialogue partner to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and the first to establish a free trade area and a comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN.

Bilateral cooperation between China and ASEAN is more robust than ever, he said, adding that in 2024, China-ASEAN trade exceeded 980 billion dollars, making the two sides each other's largest trading partner for five consecutive years.

According to China's General Administration of Customs, ASEAN remained China's largest trading partner in the first two months of 2025. During this period, trade between China and ASEAN countries reached a total of 1.03 trillion yuan, or 15.8 percent of China's overall trade value.

China fully supports Malaysia in its role as the ASEAN chair for 2025 and looks forward to Malaysia serving as a stronger bridge between the two sides as the country coordinator for China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, Xi said.

China will work with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to combat the undercurrents of geopolitical and camp-based confrontation, as well as the countercurrents of unilateralism and protectionism, said the Chinese leader.

"We must brave the waves ahead and advance the high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, and jointly build a stronger China-ASEAN community with a shared future," Xi said.