Highest level committee between Malaysia and China to be set up to strengthen defence aspect - Hishammuddin

He said the setting up of the committee, which would be chaired by him and China Defence Minister General Chang Wanquan, was necessary to institutionalised bilateral relations between Malaysia and China.

"The committee will have certain working groups, such as education and training, exchange of information, apart from current issues, like the Daesh threat," he said after a meeting with Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, Xu Qiliang, at the Defence Ministry here today.

On the meeting, he said they discussed, among others, issues on South China Sea, Daesh threat and North Korea, but declined to elaborate the matter.

In another development, Hishammuddin said the ministry had yet to decide on the purchase of the France-made multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA), Rafale.

"We are still discussing and considering. There are other suggestions and we have to look into them whether they can help to build our country's defence industry," he added.