BEIJING: China has pledged to back Malaysia’s bid for full membership into BRICS, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said this was a great honour for Malaysia and would enable the country to continue to play a key role on the global stage.
He said this was conveyed to him by China‘s President Xi Jinping following his courtesy visit to the latter at the Great Hall of the People here earlier tonight.
“President Xi had stated his full support to expedite Malaysia’s entry into BRICS as a full member. This is a great honour and an endorsement for us to continue to play a key role on the world stage.
“I deeply appreciate the sincerity of the friendship with President Xi and the honour accorded to Malaysia.
“We may be a small country. However, faith, trust, and a shared goal can become great strengths to form a more peaceful, fair, and prosperous future,” he said in a statement tonight.
Anwar had first indicated Malaysia’s interest in BRICS in mid-2024, stating that the economic bloc’s goals aligned with Malaysia’s push for multipolar engagement and inclusive global governance.
In July 2024, Malaysia formally submitted its expression of interest to join BRICS.
Malaysia officially became a BRICS partner country on Jan 1, 2025, following the 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan in October 2024.
The status was conferred while Russia was chairing the group, which included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Meanwhile, Anwar said his courtesy visit to Xi today further strengthened ties between the two nations, following Xi’s visit to Malaysia in April, where the countries inked 31 agreements and memoranda of understanding.
“Alhamdulillah, President Xi and I both agreed to continue to strengthen this friendship based on trust, respect, and sincerity.”
Anwar said he had congratulated Xi on the success of organising the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation 2025 Summit, which ended on Monday.
“I stated that these ties must be realised by the speedy implementation of items previously agreed upon. Only through swift action will this special relationship have a more meaningful impact on the people of both nations,” he said.
Anwar said he also voiced his support for Xi’s proposal of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), and the idea of the Belt and Road Initiative and how it can enhance global connectivity.
China, he said, has remained Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 16 years in a row, with bilateral trade reaching US$106 billion last year.
He said he conveyed Malaysia’s wish to strengthen high-value exports such as electrical and electronics (E&E), aerospace, medicine, pharmaceuticals, as well as oil and gas.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
