'40 years of Malaysia-China friendship tested by time'

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Kuala Lumpur on Thursday that the bond of friendship between Malaysia and China over the past 40 years had been tested by time, and each time both countries passed with flying colors and emerged stronger.

"Our two countries have proven to each other to be good neighbors, good friends and good partners who have gone through thick and thin together," he made remarks at the reception to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia.

Muhyiddin said he was confident that the ties between the two countries would enter into a new era of cooperative and mutually beneficial endeavors that would make the bond in the next 40 years more memorable.

The year 2014 had been designated by both the governments of Malaysia and China as "Malaysia-China Year of Friendly Exchanges" to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, he added.

He also expressed his gratitude to China for the arrival of the two giant pandas to Malaysia. "The two giant pandas named Fu Wa ( male) and Feng Yi (female) which arrived yesterday are living testament and symbol of the long standing Sino-Malaysia friendship, " he said.

A pair of giant pandas from China arrived here Wednesday morning on a ten-year loan, coinciding with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia.