Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Meet Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad | This week in Asia



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Tuesday's talks should "iron out" a new economic relationship following Mahathir's suspension of $ 23 billion worth of projects funded by Beijing

By Bhavan Jaipragas

Interviews with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad took place on Tuesday, adding that both sides had recently panicked after the suspension of several Beijing-backed projects in the country of Southeast Asia.

Wang's meeting with Mahathir will be the first by a top Chinese leader since the 93-year-old man returned to power for the second time after his surprise defeat of ex-protégé Najib Razak in the general election May 9th.

Sources of the Malaysian government said The week in Asia Wang's flash visit – en route to meetings in Singapore with the Foreign Ministers of the Association of Nations of 39, Southeast Asia (Asean) – will include courtesy visits with Mahathir, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, as well as a dinner with members of the Council of Eminent Personalities of Malaysia

The Advisory Council has was formed by Mahathir immediately after the elections to help the process of transition after the first democratic transfer of

Chairman of the Board Daim Zainuddin, confidant of Mahathir and former finance minister, met the Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Wang Yi during a day visit to Beijing. Mahathir said that he will visit Beijing in August

The date of Mahathir in Beijing shows that China "can not be ignored" by Malaysia

Observers monitor the diplomatic activity between both countries since the general elections. because of expectations that Mahathir would diverge from the accommodative approach adopted towards Beijing by his predecessor defeated Najib.

Najib, currently facing accusations of corruption He was one of the main promoters of the Beijing Belt and Road Initiative

. But since coming to power, Mahathir has criticized the former leader for signing

Nothing to fear from China, says Mahathir, but unbalanced deals must stop

The new government suspended plans in July backed by China worth $ 23 billion and said not to pursue unless renegotiating reduce what he deems to be inflated prices. Among them is the $ 20 billion East Coast Rail Link that will be built by China Communications Construction Company.

The Prime Minister said that Li and Wang had renegotiated loans and contracts with Meanwhile, one of his officials suggested that two China-backed gas pipeline deals, signed at the 39 Najib's time may have links to the 1MDB financial scandal for which the defeated Prime Minister faces criminal charges.

Mahathir also indicated that he preferred foreign direct investment in industries and technology rather than the real estate and infrastructure transactions signed with Chinese firms by the previous administration.

What anti-Chinese sentiment? Peking man in Malaysia Bai Tian comforted by Mahathir overtures

Oh Ei Sun, an attentive observer of Malaysia-China relations, said the last two diplomatic exchanges indicated that both sides "were pushing back" recalibrated economic relationship that would not change the Chinese status. "As Malaysia now has a new government with a very different perspective on how investment should be, it is crucial for both governments to adjust their expectations for economic cooperation," he said. declared Oh

. Wang Yi's upcoming visit to Malaysia should be seen as an effort to define a new plan for the already important economic cooperation of the two countries, in time for its formalization during Mahathir's visit to China next month, "he said.

"The fact that both countries are dealing with this readjustment process is a quick testament to the resilience of their relationship."

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