PETALING JAYA: China’s first premier Zhou En Lai has predicted that the world is in Asia where it will replace Europe when Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah visited China as the Finance Minister of Malaysia in 1971.

Razaleigh, popularly known as Ku Li, recalled Zhou telling him that Asia would be bigger and greater in the next century.

Ku Li said this in an interview with Sin Chew Daily in conjunction with 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China ties.

Zhou, according to Ku Li, also touched on the relations between China and Malaysia which started with Zheghe’s voyage.

“Zhou said the Chinese traders had travelled to Riau Islands and Malacca as recorded in many historical documents. He stressed that “we are Asians” but divided by the colonial powers,’’ said Ku Li.

Ku Li said he told Zhou that Malaysia formed ASEAN with its neighbours with a total population of 700 million in the region. The huge market would offer enormous potential.

“I told him we could trade directly and set up ties,’’ said Ku Li.

If Malaysia was able to set up ties with China which had a population of 600 million (the figures then) it was a good thing for both ASEAN and Asia Pacific, he said.

“Zhou said he has recorded all details and stressed the next century is for Asia,’’ said Ku Li.

Zhou agreed to have direct trade with Malaysia and even increased the trade volume, he said.

They met at the Great Hall of the People in China in Beijing on 15 May 1971, where Li Xiannian, the vice premier then, was also president.

Ku Li was impressed by Zhou who repeatedly said : “ Let’s become friends”, showing China’s sincerity to have ties with Malaysia.

On communists in Malaysia, Zhou told Ku Li that the Chinese communists had no links with the communists in Malaysia and denied that Chin Peng, the former secretary-general of communist party in Malaysia was commuting between China and Malaysia.

“I told Zhou that if China does not support the communists in Malaysia then Malaysia can have good ties with China.

Zhou said Chinese leaders including himself had never met Chin Peng.