PUTRAJAYA: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan is undertaking an official visit to China from April 23 to 25, his first since he assumed office in Dec 2023.

The Foreign Ministry in a statement Tuesday said the Minister will meet with his counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The meeting will be an opportunity for both sides to take stock of the progress of bilateral cooperation and explore new areas of cooperation, the statement read.

This visit holds added significance as Malaysia and China celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries, as well as 11 years since the elevation of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2013, it added.

Mohamad Hasan is also scheduled to meet Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee, and other leaders of the CCP as well as engaging with the Malaysian diaspora during the visit.

China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for fifteen consecutive years. In 2023, the total trade between Malaysia and China was valued at RM450.84 billion (USD98.80 billion).

-- BERNAMA