KUALA PILAH: Bilateral trade between Malaysia and China exceeded US$200 billion in 2024, says Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing.

It was an effort by both Malaysia and China to achieve this unprecedented record in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Malaysia-China ties last year, he said.

More than 3 million tourists from China visited Malaysia as of November last year, he said, adding that the number of Chinese students studying in Malaysia had crossed 57,000.

Close interactions among top leaders and people of Malaysia and China were a proof of good relations between both countries, he said.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Malaysia last year, followed by the official visits of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to China.

The upcoming Year of the Snake is significant to Malaysia, as the country assumes the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, said the Ambassador when launching the Chinese New Year lanterns with Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook at Si Thian Kong Temple in Kuala Pilah last Saturday.

“More than 357 sessions of various types of meetings involving China and ASEAN would be held in Malaysia.

“More tourists and representatives from China will be visiting Malaysia,” he said.

Decorated with colourful lanterns, Si Thian Kong is open to the public to take photographs until 12 February.

A charity sale is also held at the temple to raise funds for Chinese education.