M'SIAN PM ACCORDED SPECIAL TREATMENT AT GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE

FROM YONG SOO HEONG

BEIJING, June 4 (Bernama) – China Wednesday broke from tradition as it
accorded special treatment to visiting Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak by
allowing speeches to be made after a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the
People here.

In a departure from the norm, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao took to the public
address system after he had presented Najib with a copy of a black and white
photograph of Malaysia’s second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein signing a
joint communiqué with the late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai on establishing
diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China in 1974.

Normally no speeches are made after the signing of MoUs between two
countries but China decided to show its appreciation for Najib and his father,
Tun Abdul Razak, for establishing diplomatic relations with China and
subsequently strengthening them, said Malaysian officials accompanying the prime
minister's entourage.

The Malaysian side had earlier enquired whether remarks could be made after
the signing ceremony.

Najib then took the opportunity to show the picture to his mother, Tun Rahah
Mohamed Noah, wife Rosmah Mansor, and his daughter, Nooryana Najwa,
and son, Nor Ashman, who were all present at the ceremony.

The historic picture was taken in the same location as today’s ceremony
which was at the West Hall of the Great Hall of the People some 35 years ago.

Wen said relations between the two countries had expanded and deepened since
then and also alluded to a Chinese proverb that said if one drank water from a
well, he or she should not forget who had dug the well and that the Chinese
government did not forget the role played by past leaders like Tun Razak and
Zhou.

Wen explained that special arrangements were made for the speeches as the
hall was of special significance to both China and Malaysia.

He said the picture was a gift from the Chinese government to the family of
Tun Razak as the Chinese government did not forget the courageous role played by
Tun Razak in making Malaysia the first Asean country to establish diplomatic
ties with China.

He paid tribute to both “father and son” in Tun Razak and Najib whom he
described as sharing the same sentiments towards China in terms of strengthening
relations between the two countries.

Wen said today’s bilateral talks and signing of four MoUs between the
two
countries marked a new chapter in bilateral relations and likened the
strengthened and deepened relations of the two countries to that of the deep
roots of a tree which would subsequently help in bringing leafy foliage and
bountiful harvests of fruits.

In response, Najib said he would “dig more wells” to ensure that “the flow
of water would be forever bountiful that we can both share for the mutual
benefit of both countries.”

He thanked Wen for the memorable and special welcome and hospitality
accorded to him.

Najib said that in view of China’s special ties with Malaysia, it was for
this reason that he chose to visit China as the first country outside Asean
since becoming prime minister two months ago.

He said he would not only be following footsteps of his father but intended
to take Malaysia-China relations to greater heights, especially with the fact
that “China had advanced so far ahead.”

He hoped that Malaysia and China would be partners in charting a new
course
to bring about deeper bilateral relations.

Najib said the first generation had done its part by establishing diplomatic
relations 35 years ago and it was now incumbent upon the subsequent generations
to carry on the work further.

-- BERNAMA