‘We like rich partners’: Malaysia’s Mahathir heads to China for fence-mending trip

Visits to Alibaba, Geely and drone maker DJI are on the cards as the Malaysian leader attempts to soothe Chinese concerns over the US$20 billion worth of Beijing-linked deals suspended since he came to power

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President Xi Jinping will meet Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad for a dinner banquet. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:15pm, 16 Aug 2018Updated: 11:26pm, 16 Aug 2018

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s government has struck a bullish tone on ties with Beijing ahead of the leader’s hotly anticipated five-day visit to China that begins on Friday.

The Malaysian foreign ministry in a statement offered a preview of what insiders expect to be a “genial approach” by Mahathir when he meets President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and other senior leaders – despite a gulf in opinion about Chinese-backed projects in the country.

Some US$20 billion worth of Beijing-linked infrastructure contracts have been suspended since Mahathir swept to power three months ago over concerns that his predecessor, the scandal-tainted Najib Razak, had endorsed them despite what critics say were “lopsided” terms.

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

The government has said the projects may be scrapped if the Chinese contractors do not cut prices drastically.

Beijing has said the matter is between Malaysia and the Chinese companies.

The veteran leader said in an interview with Xinhua published on Thursday that he hoped to “learn about Chinese programmes or plans for Southeast Asia, including Malaysia” during the trip.

He lauded China’s rapid economic development.

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