SHANGHAI, Nov 5 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is set to invite China’s President Xi Jinping to attend the ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN-GCC Summit next year.
This invitation corresponds with Malaysia’s role as the ASEAN chair for 2025.
The Malaysian Ambassador to Beijing, Datuk Norman Muhamad, disclosed this at a press conference here on Monday (Nov 4) during the prime minister’s visit to China.
“I am confident that the prime minister will highlight our ASEAN chairmanship, which is very important, and he may extend an invitation to President Xi Jinping to attend both the ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN-GCC Summit,” he said.
He added that China regards ASEAN as a crucial organisation for maintaining regional security and stability.
The prime minister will embark on a two-day visit to Beijing beginning Nov 6, where he is scheduled to meet with President Xi.
“I believe the prime minister will make the most of this opportunity. This visit presents an ideal moment for a face-to-face meeting. While he may also encounter President Xi at forums like APEC or G20, this bilateral setting is more advantageous,” he noted.
Anwar arrived Monday night for a working visit to China, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang, to attend the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.
