Malaysia PM says his country keeps good ties with US but not China phobia, wants to engage both
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said his country does not have a “China-phobia” policy and wants to engage both Beijing and Washington, expressing hopes for both powers to resolve their differences
TOKYO (AP) — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Thursday his country does not have a “China-phobia” policy and wants to engage both Beijing and Washington, expressing hopes for both powers to resolve their differences.
Anwar, who is attending a Nikkei annual conference in Tokyo, said China is an important neighbor as it grows economically and militarily.
"While I maintain excellent relations with the United States, Japan and (South) Korea, I think for Malaysia and for the region, it is better to continue to engage with China,” he said.
“We will continue to engage and consider the United States as an important ally and at the same time enhance our collaboration with China." He stressed that Beijing is “too close, too important and too strategic to ignore.”
