Malaysia reaffirmed its consistent position on Palestine and the South China Sea during the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with China, as both sides reviewed progress under the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Utama Mohamad Hasan co-chaired the meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on July 22 on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings.
According to Wisma Putra, the meeting took stock of the progress made in implementing the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with Malaysia describing it as one of ASEAN’s most substantive partnerships built on mutual trust and shared interests.
Malaysia also highlighted the strength of bilateral economic ties, noting that ASEAN-China two-way trade reached a record US$913.10 billion in 2025.
The meeting also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, during which Malaysia reiterated its clear and consistent stance on developments in Palestine and the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, Wang highlighted the achievements of China-ASEAN cooperation over the past five years, saying steady progress had been made in building a community with a shared future between China and neighbouring countries.
He said China had reached important understandings with eight ASEAN member states on establishing bilateral communities with a shared future.
Wang also noted that economic cooperation continued to strengthen following the signing of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Protocol.
According to Wang, China and ASEAN have remained each other’s largest trading partners for six consecutive years, with bilateral trade surpassing US$1 trillion in 2025.
He also pointed to close cooperation during regional crises, including China’s emergency humanitarian assistance following major earthquakes in Myanmar and Mindanao in the Philippines.
On people-to-people ties, Wang said nearly 200 major events were held during the 2024-2025 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, while a dedicated visa scheme for ASEAN countries had also been introduced to facilitate cross-border travel.
