South China Sea: Beijing pushes for code of conduct talks, pledges deeper Malaysia, Asean ties

‘Win-win cooperation only correct choice’ for China and Asean in South China Sea, Premier Li Qiang tells Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim

Long-awaited code of conduct should focus on ‘crisis management’, not ‘consolidation of rights and claims’, Chinese analyst writes in Global Times

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang with Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim ahead of their meeting in Beijing. Photo: dpa

Published: 8:40pm, 2 Apr 2023Updated: 9:39pm, 2 Apr 2023

China has pushed for talks on a protocol to manage territorial disputes in the South China Sea while pledging to strengthen ties with Malaysia – one of the rival Southeast Asian claimants in the resource-rich waterway.

It came as Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Beijing, where he highlighted the need for regional cooperation.

Five bilateral memorandums of understanding were signed during Anwar’s visit to Beijing, involving trade and economic relations, food security and agriculture.

According to Anwar’s official Twitter account, an investment commitment of 170 billion ringgit (US$38 billion) focusing on green technology and the digital economy was also reached between companies from the two countries.

China and Malaysia should “aim at cooperation in high-quality development, promote the well-being of the two countries and their people, and contribute to regional and global stability and development”, Li told Anwar.

He also said that the two countries, along with others involved in South China Sea territorial disputes, should push forward talks on the code of conduct to “ensure peace and stability” of the waterway.