MH370: Malaysia-China relations advancing to next level - Envoy

The decades-long relations between Malaysia and China have gone through ups and downs and were now advancing towards maturity, said Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang.

Noting that challenges like the missing Malaysia Airlines plane, flight MH370 had tested ties between the two countries, the envoy however said they remained strong despite negative media reports on the incident.

"Strategic cooperation between China and Malaysia has deepened, lifting our relations to a higher level," he said during the Corporate Malaysia Roundtable organised by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli), here, today.

The envoy remarked that the visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to China to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties recently would further deepen exchanges at all levels and in all fields between both sides.

"China-Malaysia relations are akin to that between brothers and families; very solid relations. We may have some disputes but both sides will resolve them peacefully, in a friendly manner, using the diplomatic approach," he said.

Dr Huang stressed that China was willing to work with Malaysia to take the relations in the next four decades to a higher degree of maturity, stability, mutual benefit, trust and prosperity.

Flight MH370 with 239 people aboard disappeared on March 8 after taking off from the KL International Airport for Beijing. It is believed to have veered off course and ended in the southern Indian Ocean.

Of the 227 passengers, 153 were Chinese nationals.