Malaysian officials and experts agreed at an international forum on Belt and Road Initiative held in Kuala Lumpur Thursday that the China-proposed initiative has provided much scope for cooperation.
Malaysia has been supportive of policies that focus on economic growth and therefore welcome the initiatives being laid out under the Belt and Road Initiative, said S. K. Devamany, deputy minister in the Prime Minister's department.
"The Belt and Road Initiative provides much scope for cooperation between China and Malaysia," he said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's participation at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing recently has provided guidance and direction as how Malaysia should view and reciprocate on the initiative, he said.
In a blog posted on his personal website najibrazak.com after the Belt and Road Forum, Najib said Malaysia will benefit tremendously under the initiative as it enhances the connectivity between China and other regions, such as Central Asia, Europe, Southeast Asia and East Africa.
"With the vision of shared prosperity and win-win situation, I believe Malaysia and other countries will realize the potential of the Belt and Road Initiative," said the prime minister.
Devamany said the Belt and Road Initiative should not only focus on global infrastructure and trade development but also include wider aspects of development.
The two-day conference from Thursday to Friday was jointly held by the Maritime Institute of Malaysia and the China Institute of International Strategic Studies.
Themed "Expanding Cooperation and Addressing Gaps," the conference gathered experts from China, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian as well as Western countries to discuss how to deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.