MALAYSIA, CHINA SEEK STRONGER TIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION, TOURISM

PUTRAJAYA, April 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and China Thursday agreed to work
closely in several areas, especially those relating to higher education, tourism
and traditional Chinese medicine.

This was among the outcome of talks between Prime Minister Najib
Tun Razak and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao here Thursday.

"It's a very productive and meaningful meeting and we've achieved broad
agreement in pursuant to the joint action plan on strategic cooperation that was
signed in 2009," said Najib at a joint media conference with Wen.

Wen is on a two-day visit to Malaysia to reciprocate Najib's visit to China
in 2009.

This is his second visit to Malaysia after attending the first East Asia
Summit and the ninth Asean-China Summit and Asean Plus Three Summit in 2005.

Today, Malaysia and China inked a mutual recognition agreement on higher
education that will become a catalyst to increasing student exchange between the
two countries.

"Premier Wen proposed that next year 100 Malaysian students visit China and
100 Chinese students visit Malaysia. We're in full support of his proposal,"
said Najib.

On tourism, Najib said tourist arrivals from China had been on a very strong
upward increase.

Last year, 1.1 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia, he said,
describing it as a promising development for the country.

Najib said Wen also agreed with Kuala Lumpur's proposal to establish a
centre of excellence for traditional Chinese medicine in Malaysia.

The prime minister said Wen fully supported the proposal, and that the
Chinese government would provide all possible assistance to the initiative.

Meanwhile, Wen said China had high regard for Malaysia over its role in
regional and international affairs.

He said China was ready to enhance communication and coordination with
Malaysia to jointly address challenges and uphold their common interests.

The Chinese leader said that Malaysia, one of the founding members of Asean,
played an active role in promoting East Asia cooperation.

"Malaysia has also made important contributions to the development of
China-Asean relations," said Wen.

"During this visit, we have together laid out the blueprint for the future
development of our bilateral ties and further enhanced our commitment for
friendship and cooperation between us," he said.

"I believe that through our joint efforts, China-Malaysia relations will be
brought to a higher level," he said.

Wen also touched on the need for more exchanges between the two countries in
culture, education, tourism as well as journalism, to increase mutual
understanding between the people of both countries.