He said the relationship had roots from the 15th century during the golden era of the Malacca Sultanate and the Ming dynasty, and had flourished ever since.

Mahathir said Malaysia and China were the first nations in the region to establish diplomatic ties that bloomed into a relationship based on respect and trust.

“In 2018, Premier Li Keqiang and I were of the opinion that it was a good time to celebrate the close relations enjoyed by the two nations and to focus on people-to-people exchanges through culture and tourism,” he said in his address at the Malaysia-China Year of Culture and Tourism 2020 opening ceremony here yesterday.

In his speech, read by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi, Mahathir said just as the cultures of both nations were tied, so were their economies.

“For the record, in 1974, Malaysia-China trade was recorded at US$159 million. This rose by almost 700 times to US$108 billion in 2018,” he said, adding that both nations would continue to work together for the benefit of their people.

The prime minister also noted that the culture and tourism initiative coincided with Visit Malaysia 2020, making it more significant and meaningful.

He wished the people of both countries abundant prosperity, health, wealth and everlasting happiness in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.

“May the Year of the Metal Rat symbolise the reaffirmation of Malaysia-China friendship and cooperation as well as the beginning of new and firm strides ahead,” he said.

Li expressed hope the Malaysia-China Year of Culture and Tourism 2020 would serve as a platform for both countries to further expand cultural exchanges and tourism cooperation, and encourage more people-to-people visits.

“We hope we can carry on our traditional friendship based on increased mutual understanding and lay a solid social foundation for a China-Malaysia comprehensive, strategic partnership,” he said in his speech, read out by the China Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Zhang Xu.