ID :
64387
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 21:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/64387
The shortlink copeid
MANY SPECIAL MEMORABLE MOMENTS DURING CHINA VISIT, SAYS PM
FROM YONG SOO HEONG
BEIJING, June 5 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said
there were many special memorable moments during his latest trip to China and
one of them was the pleasant surprise that Chinese premier Wen Jiabao sprang at
the West Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square here.
Najib said the presentation of an old copy of a black and white photograph
of his late father, Tun Abdul Razak, signing a communique with then Chinese
premier Zhaou Enlai, by Wen caught him and family by surprise and even the
Malaysian ambassador to China, Syed Norulzaman Syed Kamarulzaman, was not told
about it.
In a press conference for the Malaysian media prior to his departure for
home, Najib said he later discovered that Wen had instructed a news organisation
to look for the photograph of his late father and Zhou at the historic occasion.
The first response from the people at the news organisation was that they
could not find it.
"But he said: “Go back and find it” and that was a very stern instruction,
and of course, when the Chinese prime minister tells you for the second time,
you better do it," he said, adding that the much sought-after picture was
finally found from the archives.
Najib said Wen decided to present him and his family the photograph at the
West Hall of Great Hall of the People on Wednesday, the same venue where the
communique was signed 35 years ago.
The Chinese side also departed from the norm and allowed speeches to be made
on Wednesday besides having the signing of four MoUs between Malaysia and China.
"Normally they don’t use the Great Hall for signing ceremonies but they
used it (in 1974 and in 2009) because they wanted to signify the historical
importance of the visit," he said, adding that there were other kind gestures
during his current trip which would be outside the normal protocol.
This, he said, was an an indication of the special sentiment that they
have towards Malaysia because "we were the first Asean country to recognise
them."
Asked why he had brought along his mother, Tun Rahah Mohamed Noah, to
Beijing this time, Najib said the visit had family elements apart from
sentiments in Celebrating 35 years of bilateral relations from a government that
appreciated the contributions of his late father.
They never forgot the family role of my late father or my mother. That is
why Chinese ambassadors (to Malaysia) make it a point to invite my mother to
visit their families at their homes although my father is no longer around.
"This is not done by any other country, but China does it. This is the
uniqueness of the Chinese, they will never forget a good deed," he said.
Najib said the visit this time also carried a deep and special meaning for
him.
Among the reasons was that this was his first official visit to a country
outside Asean since taking over as Prime Minister of Malaysia on April 3.
"This shows, as to the ties between Malaysia and China, the leadership of
both
countries deem it to be very important and strategic.
"From the personal angle, it is very sentimental and nostalgic to me and my
family as this year marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between
Malaysia and China which was initiated by my late father in 1974."
However, Najib said what was important was not to solely view the
relatationship from the historical perspective but to look forward, especially
on what could be done to bring the ties to greater heights.
Saying he was very optmistic about the relations between Malaysia and China
in future, Najib was of the view the visit would encourage more and faster
exchanges betwen the two countries.
"I have stated my visit is not to follow in my father's footsteps but to
move the bilateral relations "faster and further ahead" because China has been
developing at a very rapid pace.
"As such, it is only appropriate for us to ensure our relations also match
the pace," he said.
Najib said he also hoped Nooryana Najwa and Nor Ashman would have a greater
understanding of the country (China).
When asked for the reaction of Nor Ashman, who is studying Mandarin at
Georgetown University in Washington DC, to his suggestion that he should study
the language for a month or two at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, the
prime minister said he was still thinking about it.
-- BERNAMA
BEIJING, June 5 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said
there were many special memorable moments during his latest trip to China and
one of them was the pleasant surprise that Chinese premier Wen Jiabao sprang at
the West Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square here.
Najib said the presentation of an old copy of a black and white photograph
of his late father, Tun Abdul Razak, signing a communique with then Chinese
premier Zhaou Enlai, by Wen caught him and family by surprise and even the
Malaysian ambassador to China, Syed Norulzaman Syed Kamarulzaman, was not told
about it.
In a press conference for the Malaysian media prior to his departure for
home, Najib said he later discovered that Wen had instructed a news organisation
to look for the photograph of his late father and Zhou at the historic occasion.
The first response from the people at the news organisation was that they
could not find it.
"But he said: “Go back and find it” and that was a very stern instruction,
and of course, when the Chinese prime minister tells you for the second time,
you better do it," he said, adding that the much sought-after picture was
finally found from the archives.
Najib said Wen decided to present him and his family the photograph at the
West Hall of Great Hall of the People on Wednesday, the same venue where the
communique was signed 35 years ago.
The Chinese side also departed from the norm and allowed speeches to be made
on Wednesday besides having the signing of four MoUs between Malaysia and China.
"Normally they don’t use the Great Hall for signing ceremonies but they
used it (in 1974 and in 2009) because they wanted to signify the historical
importance of the visit," he said, adding that there were other kind gestures
during his current trip which would be outside the normal protocol.
This, he said, was an an indication of the special sentiment that they
have towards Malaysia because "we were the first Asean country to recognise
them."
Asked why he had brought along his mother, Tun Rahah Mohamed Noah, to
Beijing this time, Najib said the visit had family elements apart from
sentiments in Celebrating 35 years of bilateral relations from a government that
appreciated the contributions of his late father.
They never forgot the family role of my late father or my mother. That is
why Chinese ambassadors (to Malaysia) make it a point to invite my mother to
visit their families at their homes although my father is no longer around.
"This is not done by any other country, but China does it. This is the
uniqueness of the Chinese, they will never forget a good deed," he said.
Najib said the visit this time also carried a deep and special meaning for
him.
Among the reasons was that this was his first official visit to a country
outside Asean since taking over as Prime Minister of Malaysia on April 3.
"This shows, as to the ties between Malaysia and China, the leadership of
both
countries deem it to be very important and strategic.
"From the personal angle, it is very sentimental and nostalgic to me and my
family as this year marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between
Malaysia and China which was initiated by my late father in 1974."
However, Najib said what was important was not to solely view the
relatationship from the historical perspective but to look forward, especially
on what could be done to bring the ties to greater heights.
Saying he was very optmistic about the relations between Malaysia and China
in future, Najib was of the view the visit would encourage more and faster
exchanges betwen the two countries.
"I have stated my visit is not to follow in my father's footsteps but to
move the bilateral relations "faster and further ahead" because China has been
developing at a very rapid pace.
"As such, it is only appropriate for us to ensure our relations also match
the pace," he said.
Najib said he also hoped Nooryana Najwa and Nor Ashman would have a greater
understanding of the country (China).
When asked for the reaction of Nor Ashman, who is studying Mandarin at
Georgetown University in Washington DC, to his suggestion that he should study
the language for a month or two at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, the
prime minister said he was still thinking about it.
-- BERNAMA
