President Xi's 2025 Southeast Asia tour to Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia

The 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic relations in 2025 marks a pivotal moment to celebrate their deep-rooted ties and navigate shared challenges. It offers a meaningful opportunity to celebrate their enduring cultural, economic, and people-to-people bonds. For centuries, the two neighbors have shared rich cultural exchanges, influenced by Confucian traditions, literature, and art, creating a foundation of mutual understanding. Today, this connection thrives through vibrant trade, with China remaining Vietnam’s largest trading partner. Collaborative projects in infrastructure, technology, and cross-border tourism further highlight their intertwined economic futures.

The future of China-Malaysia bilateral trade is expected to maintain robust growth and deepen structural cooperation across multiple dimensions. The following is what we could expect based on recent developments and trends: 1. Expansion in trade volume In 2024, bilateral trade between China and Malaysia reached a new record of $212.04 billion, up 11.4% year-on-year, driven by strong demand in electronics, energy, and agricultural products. China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, while Malaysia ranks as China’s second-largest ASEAN trade partner. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), fully implemented for Malaysia for over three years, will further reduce tariffs and simplify rules of origin. For instance, Chinese machinery, textiles, and processed goods, along with Malaysian agricultural products (e.g., durian, coconut water), will gain preferential access to both sides. 2. Emerging Sectors for Collaboration Green Economy & Renewable Energy: Malaysia aims to achieve 31% renewable energy by 2025 and carbon neutrality by 2050, creating opportunities for Chinese investments in solar power, energy storage, and EV manufacturing. Chinese companies like BYD are already exploring partnerships in Malaysia’s EV ecosystem. Digital Transformation: Malaysia’s digital economy is projected to grow 16% in 2024 (reaching $31 billion), with e-commerce and fin-tech as key areas. Chinese tech firms are expected to collaborate on AI infrastructure, smart cities, and cross-border e-commerce platforms. High-End Manufacturing: Malaysia’s semiconductor industry (accounting for 13% of global chip exports) aligns with China’s demand for advanced manufacturing. Joint ventures in chip design, automation, and aerospace are likely to expand. 3. Institutional & Regional Synergy As ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia will prioritize regional integration under themes like “inclusiveness and sustainability,” which aligns with China’s BRI goals, fostering infrastructure projects (e.g., East Coast Railway Link) and ASEAN-China free trade upgrades. “Two Countries, Twin Parks” Initiative: The China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park and Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park will serve as hubs for cross-border supply chains, combining Malaysia’s logistics advantages with China’s capital and tech advantages. 4. Challenges & Mitigation Trade protectionism and fluctuating commodity prices (e.g., palm oil, natural gas) may impact short-term stability. However, the RCEP framework and Malaysia’s pro-investment policies (e.g., tax incentives for tech startups) provide buffers. Both countries are reducing reliance on traditional sectors by expanding into healthcare, biotech, and halal industries. For instance, Malaysia’s halal certification system could tap into China’s $30 billion halal market. In the future, we may expect that by 2030 the bilateral trade will be projected to exceed $300 billion, supported by the complementary industrial chains between Malaysia’s resource base and China’s manufacturing prowess as well as tourism and education exchanges.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1958, China and Cambodia have maintained a uniquely close partnership through decades of shifting international dynamics. During the Cold War, China steadfastly supported Prince Norodom Sihanouk, providing crucial political backing against external interference. Following Cambodia’s peace process in 1993, China actively contributed to its reconstruction, with both sides coordinating closely on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations. In 2010, bilateral relations were elevated to a "comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation" and the recent signing of the Action Plan on Building a China-Cambodia Community with a Shared Future signifies a new height of mutual trust. Economically, China has remained Cambodia’s largest source of foreign investment for years, with projects spanning infrastructure, energy, and agriculture, such as the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway and the new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport – significantly enhancing Cambodia’s development capacity. Bilateral trade exceeded $16 billion in 2022, and the entry into force of the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement has further deepened economic integration. In cultural and social domains, China has supported Cambodia’s human resource development through scholarships and Confucius Institutes, while pandemic cooperation, including China’s timely provision of vaccines and medical supplies, strengthened grassroots bonds. Despite the robust ties, Cambodia continues to explore a balanced approach between its close cooperation with China and diversified diplomacy. Future collaboration may focus on emerging fields like digital economy and green energy to elevate cooperation to new levels.

Many foreign students, including those from Malaysia, often ask: "I want to study in China. Are there scholarships available? Can I get full funding?" The answer is yes! There are 274 Chinese universities offering scholarships for international students every year. If you're planning to do your undergraduate, master's or PhD studies in China, there are several types of scholarships you can apply for. They mainly fall into three categories:

The documentary Maritime Silk Road uses history as its backdrop and real-life stories as its core to vividly illustrate how the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road is a path of openness, integration, mutual benefit, neighborly friendship, and peaceful development. It is also a bridge linking China’s dreams with those of the world through trade and cultural exchange. By showcasing the cultural significance of the Maritime Silk Road, the documentary deepens viewers’ understanding of its historical and contemporary relevance.

The Vietnamese version of “Minning Town”(the series carries the more poetic Chinese title, Shan Hai Qing, which means "Friendship Across the Mountains and the Sea.")has overcome language obstacles through localization, allowing Vietnamese audiences to better comprehend the story of China's "targeted poverty alleviation" and how China has accomplished a miracle in the history of poverty reduction. This authentic account of poverty alleviation shares China's experience for Vietnam and other nearby countries to learn from.

In recent years, China's rich expertise in the conservation of cultural heritage has become increasingly integrated into its neighborhood diplomacy, creating a new paradigm of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations that combines heritage preservation, technological innovation, and cultural exchange. This synergy injects new energy into people-to-people bonds under the Belt and Road Initiative and fosters a neighborhood community with a shared future.