Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s first official visit to China is described as a fruitful trip by the media.

After becoming the prime minister for only four months, Anwar has visited Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Cambodia to enhance diplomatic ties with Malaysia’s neighbors in Asean.

He also visited Turkey because of the earthquake.

Before China, Anwar’s visit to Saudi Arabia was dismissed by the opposition as a failed trip with no results.

Anwar received the highest level of reception in China despite Malaysia being a developing country. He managed to meet up with three of China’s top leaders: President Xi Jinping, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji and Premier Li Qiang.

It was a sharp contrast compared to his Saudi trip.

In fact, Anwar was flanked by a team of experts in the China trip.

He was accompanied by six cabinet ministers: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zamry Abdul Kadir, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, Science and Technology Minister Chang Lih Kang, and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

Also in the delegation were over 300 Malaysian Chinese businessmen representing the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia.

Top industry players in Malaysia, including more than a hundred businessmen carrying the titles of Tan Sri, Datuk Seri and Datuk, were with the prime minister at the China World Hotel in Beijing, turning it into a mini Malaysia.

This is Anwar’s most prominent delegation so far.

MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong is another topic in Anwar’s China trip.

It is learned that Anwar had asked Wee to join the delegation. After Wee agreed, he received a call from Zambry.

As a member of parliament without a cabinet position, Wee was accorded a ministerial status. He was seated with the ministers in many events and press conferences.

Anwar described in a press conference at the end of his visit that Wee’s presence was an added value to the visit.

Prior to the visit, Wee was rumored to have been appointed chairman of the Malaysia-China Business Council or the special envoy to China.

Anwar did not make any official announcement but speculations on Wee’s appointment will continue.

In the eyes of the Malaysian Chinese community, Anwar’s visit to China is well-received, especially after Malaysia and China signed memorandums of understanding valued at RM170 billion, which has since become the highlight of the visit.

However, reactions from the Malay community are not as enthusiastic as the Chinese community.

The Malay community is more concerned about the additional allocation for pilgrimage trips from Saudi Arabia. The Malay community is keen to listen to pro-Islamic remarks.

The opposition Perikatan Nasional is well aware of this.

Anwar has long been seen as a pro-West leader. The battle to uphold democracy and years of imprisonment have won him praises from the West.

However, after the China visit, he is now perceived as being pro-China.

China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for many years, but the United States is equally important to Malaysia too in terms of trade and investment.

Anwar’s visit to China reiterates Malaysia’s stand in supporting the One China policy. He does not defend the pro-China label but merely states that this is in the best interest of the country.

Hopefully Malaysia will be able to receive more attention at the international level after Anwar’s visit to China.