Malaysia hopes to work closely with China so that the bilateral relationship is always on the best of terms, feelings and solidarity, its Minister of Culture, Art and Tourism Abdul Kadir said on Saturday.
"We want to always have very, very special relationship with China," Abdul Kadir said at the launching ceremony of Malaysia-China Friendship Year (2004) in the ancient town of Melaka, central Malaysia.
The cooperation between the two countries in the culture and tourism sectors will further strengthen their diplomatic relations, he added.
The Sino-Malaysia Friendship Year is launched to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and Admiral Cheng Ho's arrival at Melaka in the mid 1400s.
Cheng Ho, born in 1371, was a towering icon of the global age of expeditions in the 15th Century. He made seven historic expeditions from China to Southeast Asia, South Asia, Middle East and as far as East Africa from 1405 to 1433.
On his part, visiting Chinese Vice Minister of Culture Meng Xiaosi said, "We believe that the series of celebrations for Malaysia-China Friendship Year will have significant impacts on the development of political, economic and cultural relations and play a positive role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries and ushering in their common prosperity."
After the ceremony, Abdul Kadir and Meng opened a photo exhibition on the 30-year diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China as well as Cheng Ho Gallery here.
(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2004)
