PM Mahathir assures China of working further to strengthen diplomatic ties

BEIJING (Aug 20): Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the new Malaysia government will work further to strengthen Sino-Malaysia diplomatic ties. Dr Mahathir said this at the official dialogue with China Premier Li Keqiang here this morning.

Dr Mahathir said: "This is my eighth visit to China... I am sure that I am here this time we would be able to understand each other's problems better and (the meetings) will yield good results."

The media was allowed to enter the meeting hall for the first few minutes of the dialogue.

During the dialogue, Dr Mahathir said: "There are periods of ups and downs for the relationship between China and Malaysia. I could ensure you that when I was the prime minister for 22 years, I have upgraded the diplomatic relationship."

"I am back now. I will work further on it," said Dr Mahathir.

All eyes are on the meetings today between Malaysia and China, the diplomatic ties of which has gotten rather tensed after Malaysia's new government suspended several mega projects, including the ECRL, in which Chinese state-owned enterprises are involved.

These projects have been given stop-work notice due to inflated project costs.