Malaysians speak highly of Chinese President Hu's visit

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 13 -- Chinese President Hu Jintao ended his two-day state visit to Malaysia on Wednesday. Various circles in Malaysia highly lauded Hu's visit to the country these days, saying it was "significant" and "fruitful".

Hu's visit was quite successful and fruitful, greatly boosting the bilateral ties as well as trade and investment between Malaysia and China, said Koh Tsu Koon, minister in Malaysia's Prime Minister's Department.

Hu's visit also further enhanced ties between the leaders of the two countries, he said.

Malaysia would benefit significantly from the five Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed between the two countries, he added.

Pheng Yin Huah, President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia, said that President Hu's visit indicated that China attached great importance to interacting with its neighboring countries.

Although his visit was short, Hu managed to meet Malaysian leaders and representatives from various sectors and witnessed the signing of MoUs between the two countries, said Pheng.

Pheng said that the memos had not only strengthened the relations between Malaysia and China, but also led to further entrepreneurial collaboration between the two countries.

Pheng also said that Hu's visit to the Malacca State showed that the Chinese leadership was concerned about culture and cultural exchanges.

Tan Kai Hee, Secretary-General of Malaysia-China Friendship Association, said that Hu received warm welcome in Malaysia, and his visit to Malaysia brought about significant results and further deepened the already friendly ties between the two countries.

Tan said that the memos signed during Hu's visit paved the ways for future collaboration between Malaysia and China.

One of the memos related to the financial sector, which would allow more banks from China to set foot in Malaysia, he said, adding that it would significantly boost bilateral investments and bring bilateral trade to new heights.

Malaysia and China signed some MoUs during Hu's visit, including the content concerning the mutual recognition of the academic degrees granted by each other's key universities, said Soo Khin Wah, head of the Department Chinese Studies, University of Malaya.

This would further push ahead the educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries, Soo said.

Local newspapers also spoke highly of Hu's visit these days.

Hu's visit to Malaysia indicated that the Malaysia-China ties were deepening, said Pook Ah Lek, Editor-in-Chief of Sin Chew Daily, a leading Chinese-language newspaper in Malaysia.

It also showed the sincerity of China in developing good relations with Malaysia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, he said.

Malaysia's English-language daily The Star carried an article entitled "Exciting Phase" on Thursday, saying that the close ties between China and Malaysia has shifted to an exciting phase and entered into a new era of in-depth growth.

The News Straits Times also said that the signing of several MoUs between China and Malaysia, including working together to explore new areas of cooperation, had pushed the bilateral and trade ties of the two countries to a new high.

The two countries have entered a new era of cooperation, the daily added.

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived here on Tuesday for a two-day state visit to Malaysia. It was the first state visit to the country by a Chinese head of state in 15 years.

Hu left for Singapore Wednesday afternoon to attend the 17th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting there.