PETALING JAYA: China’s first premier Zhou Enlai predicted that the world would be in Asia and would replace Europe, when Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah visited China in a delegation led by then Prime Minister Tun Razak Hussein in 1971.

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

The former finance minister said this in an interview with Sin Chew Daily in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Malaysia-China ties.

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

“Zhou said the Chinese traders had travelled to Riau Islands and Melaka as recorded in many historical documents.

“He stressed that ‘we were Asians’ but were divided by colonial powers,” said Ku Li.

Ku Li said he told Zhou Malaysia formed ASEAN with its neighbours in the region with a combined population of 700 million. 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 then had a population of 600 million, it would be a great thing for both ASEAN and Asia Pacific, said Ku Li.

“Zhou said he had recorded all the details and stressed the next century would be for Asia,’’ he continued.

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

The two leaders met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 15 May 1971. Li Xiannian, the vice premier then, was also present.

Ku Li was impressed by Zhou who repeatedly said: “Let’s become friends,” as this showed China’s sincerity in establishing formal ties with Malaysia.

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

“I told Zhou Malaysia could have good ties with China if the country did not support the communists in Malaysia.”

Zhou insisted that Chinese leaders, including himself, had never met with Chin Peng.