On May 31, 2014, the Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Diplomatic Relationship between China and Malaysia was held at the Great Hall of the People. Nearly 300 people from different circles in the two countries attended the celebration, including Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng, First Secretary of Central Communist Youth League Qin Yizhi, Party Secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Peng Qinghua, President of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Chen Wu, Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife. This event was cohosted by CPAFFC, Malaysia-China Friendship Association and Embassy of Malaysia.

Li Keqiang said in his speech, this day marks a special milestone in the history of China-Malaysia friendship. On this day 40 years ago, Premier Zhou Enlai and Prime Minister Abdul Razak of Malaysia jointly signed the China-Malaysia Joint Communiqué, which made Malaysia among the first ASEAN countries that established diplomatic relationship with China. It opened a new chapter in the history of the China-Malaysia relationship, and also ushered in a new era of China''s relations with the ASEAN countries. As friendly neighbors, China and Malaysia are pioneers and models of friendly cooperation in the region. Li Keqiang pointed out, over the past 40 years, the China-Malaysia relations, with flourishing vitality and strong momentum, have stepped onto a track of comprehensive, stable and practical development. The sapling of the China-Malaysia relations planted 40 years ago has grown into a lofty tree with luxuriant foliage. China is willing to work with Malaysia to better integrate the mutually beneficial cooperation with each other''s development strategy, and further enhance regional cooperation and jointly create a brighter future for Asia, making the 40-year-old China-Malaysia relations achieve fruitful results constantly to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Li Keqiang said, the China-Malaysia relations have been more mature through all the tests and challenges. After the incident of the missing Malaysia Airlines passenger flight occurred, China has maintained close cooperation with all relevant parties, never stopped the search work, and paid high attention to the investigation and settlement of the incident. China is willing to join efforts with Malaysia to remain fully committed to searching for the flight and properly manage the relevant follow-up issues so as to enable the China-Malaysia relations and friendship to stand tests.

Najib said in his speech that 40 years ago, his father, the then Prime Minister Abdul Razak of Malaysia resolutely came to China to open "a journey of goodwill and friendship to sow the seeds of mutual understanding between Malaysia and China". Leaders of the two countries jointly opened up a new era for the Malaysia-China relations. Over the past 40 years, with the joint efforts of both sides, Malaysia-China friendship has become even stronger as time goes by and Malaysia-China cooperation has achieved fruitful results, bringing benefits to the two peoples. Malaysia expresses deep sorrow for the incident of the missing Malaysia Airlines passenger flight, and thanks the Chinese government for providing strong support for Malaysia in the process of handling the incident. Malaysia will spare no effort to carry out the search work and properly manage the aftermath. He believed that Malaysia-China friendship will become firmer and closer through tests.

Najib said that with the rising position of Asia, Malaysia expects to forge a partnership with China in achieving common development, promoting prosperity and safeguarding peace, and to enhance exchanges and cooperation with China in all fields, making new contributions to the prosperity and stability of the two countries and the region at large.

Li Keqiang and Najib then signed the Joint Communiqué of the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Diplomatic Relationship between China and Malaysia. They presented each other with commemorative coins and first-day covers in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and Malaysia.