KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4: Chinese President Xi Jinping said today he and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had agreed to elevate ties to a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’, aiming to boost military cooperation and nearly triple two-way trade to 160 billion dollars by 2017.
The Chinese and Malaysian leaders spoke soon after US. President Barack Obama cancelled a week-long tour of four Asian nations due to the US government shutdown.
Najib said he agreed with Xi, who is visiting Malaysia ahead the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Indonesia, to encourage more joint military exercises and visits between the nations.
China is already Malaysia’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade last year totalling 181 billion ringgit
(57 billion dollars).
(agencies)
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