Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said in Kuala Lumpur Sunday he would work for enhancing Malaysia's relations with China, first established by his late father, former Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak, 30 years ago. 

"I will personally push for a closer and deeper relationship with China" he said at the signing of the Second Executive Program for the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation between Malaysia and China at the National Art Gallery and launching of the Contemporary Art Exhibition From China here.

Najib said this was not only due to personal reasons arising from his late father's role in the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1974 but also in line with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's foreign policy.

Describing the event as a special occasion for him since it was part of the year-long program to commemorate "Malaysia-China 30 years of friendship," Najib said the bilateral relationship had benefited both countries economically and culturally.

Malaysia was China's largest trading partner within ASEAN and seventh globally while China was Malaysia's fourth largest trading partner, he said.

The bilateral trade between China and Malaysia was estimated at US$20 billion last year.

Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), set up in 1967, now groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Malaysia hoped to attract one million Chinese tourists to Malaysia this year, he said.

On the Executive Program signed, he said, it was a continuation of the Cultural Agreement signed between both countries in 2000.

Politically, Najib said, "We are very much in tandem with one another since Malaysia never viewed China as a threat to this region. We always view China as a friendly country."

The Malaysia-China Friendship Year was launched on Saturday to mark the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations in Melaka, central Malaysia.

The Melaka event was in conjunction with the 600th anniversary of the first official contact between China and Malaysia with the visit of Admiral Zheng He or better known locally as Admiral Cheng Ho to Melaka in 1405. 

(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2004)