President Xi to host state dinner for Anwar

SHANGHAI, Nov 4 – Chinese President Xi Jinping will host a state dinner for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at The Great Hall of People in Beijing on Nov 7.

“This is a great honour for Malaysia,” said Malaysian Ambassador to Beijing Datuk Norman Muhamad at a press conference in conjunction with the Prime Minister’s visit to the country.

Anwar is expected to arrive in Shanghai on Monday (Nov 4), his first stop before going to Beijing, to begin a four-day working visit to China.

The Prime Minister is expected to depart for Beijing, his final destination during the official working visit, on Nov 6, and is expected to pay a courtesy call to President Xi, in the Chinese capital.

Norman added that in Shanghai, Malaysia would be honoured as the “Country of Honour” at the seventh China International Import Expo (7th CIIE) where Anwar was given the honour to speak after his counterpart Li Qiang’s address, followed by five other guest nations.

“The honour was given for two reasons, firstly for Malaysia, China is the largest trading partner and also to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.

“We see it as the conclusion of a series of programmes held between Malaysia and China,” he said.

Anwar will be on a working visit to China from Nov 4 to 7, 2024, at Li’s invitation to the 7th CIIE in Shanghai.

In Shanghai, Anwar is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Li to follow up on their meeting in Putrajaya on June 19, 2024, and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

CIIE is a Chinese government initiative that allows countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative the opportunity promote and export goods and services to China.

Anwar will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.

This trip marks the third visit to China for Anwar, as the prime minister made his maiden visit to China in March 2023, followed by September of the same year. It will be his first official visit to Shanghai.