Mahathir’s date in Beijing shows China ‘can’t be ignored’ by Malaysia

Malaysian prime minister is expected to visit China between August 13 and 21, when he will face a fine balancing act – strengthening ties while renegotiating the multibillion-ringgit deals his government has put on hold

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Now and then: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad visits Beijing in 1996. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:20pm, 6 Jul 2018Updated: 4:03am, 7 Jul 2018

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s tentative plan to visit China in August signals the 92-year-old leader’s hopes of strengthening ties with the Asian juggernaut even as he puts some US$20 billion of Beijing-linked projects on ice, analysts say.

Two diplomatic sources told This Week in Asia that talks were underway for Mahathir, 92, to visit the Chinese capital sometime between August 13 and 21.

And in a press conference on Friday afternoon, Mahathir said he wanted to visit Beijing as soon as possible, but had to work out dates based on the availability of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The actual dates and length of the visit have yet to be determined, the diplomats said.

WATCH: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir says he is not anti-China

The secretive annual gathering of Chinese leaders at the Beidaihe resort – usually held some time in August – and the Muslim Eid-ul-Adha festival widely celebrated in Muslim-majority Malaysia are among events that need to be “de-conflicted” before a firm date can be agreed upon by both sides, they said.

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