LETTER | As the year of 2020 is knocking on our doors, on behalf of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, I wish the Malaysian people and all the friends who support and promote China-Malaysia friendship a happy and prosperous new year!

In the past 2019, China has not only solemnised its 70th birthday but also withstood great economic challenges stemming from both inside and outside, widened its door of opening up steadily, and maintained a high-quality economic growth. This near-perfect “year-end assessment” result from China has once again instilled strong confidence and impetus to the world economy.

At the end of last October, the fourth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was successfully held and for the first time in history, the session did a systematic summary of the achievements and advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the governing system of China. It is one step forward to the institutionalisation of the “Good Governance of China”.

In the shadow of a global economic downturn, China, in the spirit of mutually beneficial and "win-win" cooperation, has made its contributions to an open world economy by holding the 2nd Belt and Road International Forum for Cooperation and the 2nd China International Import Expo. Against the backwash of anti-globalisation, unilateralism and protectionism, China has stood its ground upholding multilateralism, promoted the ideal of building a community of shared future for mankind, and actively contributed Chinese wisdom to addressing the global governance deficit.

In the past 2019, China-Malaysia relations have been developing fast and sound. It has been an eventful and fruitful year. Our two countries have celebrated the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad visited China again to attend the 2nd Belt and Road International Forum for Cooperation where he has drawn a grand blueprint for the future of our bilateral relations with Chinese leaders. 

Iconic cooperation projects such as ECRL and Bandar Malaysia relaunched. Malaysian frozen durian whole fruit got the green light to export to China. The volume of bilateral trade, the number of exchange students between China and Malaysia and the number of Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia reached an all-time high. Our cooperation has broadened, our common interests have deepened and our peoples have enjoyed more tangible benefits.

Looking forward, the year 2020 will certainly be a milestone in the history of both China and Malaysia. For China, it will be the year when we achieve the first “centenary goal”, finish building a moderately prosperous society and eradicate poverty in China. For Malaysia, 2020 will be the year when Malaysia attracts the attention of the whole world; let it be hosting Apec 2020 or Visit Malaysia 2020. Next year will also be China-Malaysia Year of Culture and Tourism. Currently, both sides are planning a series of activities, which will prove to be valuable opportunities to strengthen the cooperation between our two countries and to promote understanding and exchanges between our two peoples. 

For China-Malaysia relations, the year 2020 will be a year of higher expectations, which deserve more effort and hard work and it will definitely yield more harvests. On the journey of win-win cooperation and common development, we will be joining hands with the Malaysian side all the way to the end.

With the dawning of 2020, a new decade is coming. It will be a “Digital Decade”, a “Smart Decade”. It will be a decade when international order, global governance and people’s perceptions of the world undergo rapid, dramatic changes. It will be a new chapter in human history.

With all these fears and hopes, the changes and challenges we are facing, Prime Minister Mahathir has given Malaysia’s answer. That is the theme of Apec 2020, "Optimising Human Potential towards a Future of Shared Prosperity", which shares the same core connotation with the Chinese side’s ideal of building a community of shared future for mankind. 

It is my earnest hope that China and Malaysia could continue to work closely, rally the potential of our peoples to bolster our friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve a shared prosperity. I hope that China and Malaysia, along with all other countries in the world, could hold high the torch of multilateralism, banish the dark clouds of unilateralism and ultimately, usher a clear sky of common development, peace and stability for the world and for all humanity.

The writer is China's ambassador to Malaysia.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.