Xi arrives in Kuala Lumpur for state visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan wave upon their arrival in Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia, Oct. 3, 2013. Xi started a state visit to Malaysia on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived Thursday for a state visit to Malaysia, the second leg of his maiden trip to Southeast Asia since he assumed presidency in March.

During his stay in the country, Xi is scheduled to meet Supreme Head of State Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and Prime Minister Najib Razak and attend a China-Malaysia economic cooperation summit.

Both China and Malaysia are important countries in the region and they share extensive common interests, Xi noted in a statement delivered upon arrival.

"To deepen the strategic cooperation between our two countries accords with the aspiration of our people and the trend of the times," Xi said, adding that it is also conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

The Chinese president expressed the hope that the visit will help deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries and achieve new progress in China-Malaysia strategic cooperation.

Prior to Xi's visit, Najib told Xinhua in an interview that the visit signals China's desire to maintain warm ties with Malaysia, which will advance on a strong footing under China's new leadership.

The trip, added the prime minister, will lift bilateral ties to a higher level and add fresh impetus to Malaysia-China cooperation.

China and Malaysia have seen the development of their relations gaining momentum in recent years.

China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for four consecutive years, while Malaysia has been China's largest in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for five years in a row.

In 2012, two-way trade soared to a record high of 94.8 billion U.S. dollars, nearly a quarter of China's total with ASEAN.

Xi flew in following a state visit to Indonesia. After Malaysia, he will travel to the Indonesian resort island of Bali for the 21st informal economic leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.