Kuala Lumpur Hosts Forum on Xi Jinping’s Governance of China (Volume V)

2 May 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: The China-Malaysia Readers Forum on the English Edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume V) was held in Kuala Lumpur on 30 April.

The event was attended by senior officials from both countries, including Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Johari bin Abdul, Speaker of the Malaysian Parliament’s House of Representatives; Chang Bo, President of China International Communications Group (CICG); Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Malaysia’s Minister of Transport; Ouyang Yujing, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia; and Dato’ Dr. Mohd Anuar Rethwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Language and Literature Malaysia. Over 200 representatives from political, academic, think tank, and media sectors from both China and Malaysia also participated.

Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Johari bin Abdul remarked that the book offers key insights into China’s development, governance, and international cooperation, helping the global community better understand the underlying logic of China’s policy approach.

He emphasised that for Malaysia, engaging with such a work is not merely about observing China but about deepening mutual understanding, building trust, and expanding cooperation as long-term partners. The forum provided an important platform for exchanging views and strengthening the foundation of bilateral relations, he added.

Malaysia will continue to advocate multilateralism and principled engagement within ASEAN and beyond, he said, adopting a rational, prudent, and open approach to better understand China’s governance philosophy, thereby advancing bilateral relations.

Addressing the forum, Chang Bo highlighted that Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume V) vividly illustrates the practice and major theoretical innovations achieved under President Xi Jinping’s leadership in building a modern socialist country. As an authoritative publication, the book helps the international community understand the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Communist Party of China, China’s development in the new era, and the Chinese path to modernisation.

“High-quality development remains the essence of Chinese modernisation, opening vast opportunities for China and Malaysia to progress together,” he noted. “High-level opening-up is a distinctive feature of Chinese modernisation, providing strong momentum for China and Malaysia to walk this path side by side. Effective cooperation is the fundamental support for building a community with a shared future for humanity, creating a stable environment for both countries to advance together.”

Chang added that CICG will collaborate with Malaysian cultural, publishing, media, and think tank communities to promote the translation and publication of the Malay edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, fostering a deeper understanding of modern China and laying a solid foundation for China-Malaysia friendship.

Anthony Loke Siew Fook noted that the book’s discussion on new quality productive forces, technological innovation, green and low-carbon development, and the integration of digital and real economies addresses key global development issues and offers valuable insights for Malaysia’s own modernisation journey. He also highlighted that its concepts on ecological civilisation reflect a long-term vision of balancing economic growth with environmental protection, serving as a valuable reference for countries pursuing sustainable development.

The Minister expressed hope that the book would provide a systematic understanding of China’s governance system and policy logic. “Malaysia’s MADANI initiative shares a highly aligned development vision with China’s governance philosophy,” he said. “Under the leadership of both nations, Malaysia and China will further deepen practical cooperation across various fields and progress together towards modernisation.”

Ouyang Yujing stated that Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume V) offers an important window for the international community to understand China in the new era and a key to decoding China’s successful governance. China’s modernisation experience serves as a reference for other nations seeking their own development paths. Its high-level openness injects stable momentum into global growth, and its distinctive diplomacy takes on the responsibility of shaping the future of humanity.

Under the strategic guidance of leaders from both countries, he added, the prospects for the new “Golden Fifty Years” in China-Malaysia relations are promising. The building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future will continue to deepen and strengthen. “We hope this book will help our Malaysian friends gain a deeper understanding of China’s governance ideas, solutions, and wisdom,” he said.

Dato’ Dr. Mohd Anuar Rethwan stated that his institution has long promoted civilisational exchange through translation, introducing Chinese classics into Malay and helping local readers better understand Chinese culture.

He noted that the translation and publication of the fifth volume represent not only a linguistic endeavour but also an exchange of ideas, development perspectives, and shared aspirations. He expressed hope that the book would provide Malaysian readers with deeper insights into China’s development goals, governance philosophy, and global role, further enriching people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two nations.

On behalf of China, Chang Bo and Ouyang Yujing presented the English edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume V) to Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Johari bin Abdul, Anthony Loke Siew Fook, and Dato’ Dr. Mohd Anuar Rethwan.

During the discussion session, experts and scholars exchanged views on topics including national governance, China-ASEAN regional cooperation, and the China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

Professor Wang Bin, Deputy Director of the Department of Industrial Economics at the School of Economics, Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), noted that Xi Jinping Thought on the Economy guided China’s high-quality development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. He added that the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) is not only a blueprint for China’s development but also a major opportunity for global cooperation. China looks forward to working with Malaysia and other partners to build an open and prosperous future.

Ngeow Chow Bing, Director of the Institute of China Studies at the University of Malaya, observed that concepts such as “high-quality development” and “common prosperity” are systematically articulated and comprehensively presented in Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. These ideas align with global priorities on inclusive growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability, attracting significant interest across Malaysia.

Du Lan, Deputy Director of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, highlighted that the book’s discussion on initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilisation Initiative provides a logical foundation for China’s policies and pragmatic approaches to global cooperation amid uncertainties.

Ian Neo Chee Hua, CEO of the Southeast Asia Research Centre for Humanities, remarked that the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China presents the political philosophy guiding China’s economic and social development and its international relations. Many of the key concepts align with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Malaysia’s 13th Malaysia Plan.

Dato’ Abdul Majid bin Ahmad Khan, former Malaysian Ambassador to China and President of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, stated that the vision of openness, inclusiveness, and mutually beneficial cooperation in the book offers important insights for regional collaboration. Amid global economic restructuring and supply chain realignment, Malaysia and China should seize opportunities presented by RCEP and elevate bilateral cooperation.

Datuk Lum Kim Soong, President of the Federation of Malaysian Chinese Commerce Associations, suggested that with the concurrent implementation of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Malaysia’s 13th Malaysia Plan, both countries can deepen cooperation in digital, green, blue, and tourism economies, strengthening industrial, supply, and talent chains, and advancing the Five-Year Programme for Economic and Trade Cooperation (2024–2028).

Professor Chen Yan of Xiamen University and Dean of the School of Economics and Management at Xiamen University Malaysia stated that development remains a shared priority for China and Malaysia. Both aim to improve livelihoods and upgrade economic structures. To build a high-level China-Malaysia community with a shared future, both sides should follow principles promoted by the Global Development Initiative to deepen practical cooperation and ensure steady, long-term progress.

The event was jointly hosted by China’s State Council Information Office, CICG, and the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, and co-organised by Foreign Languages Press and the Centre for Asia-Pacific Studies at CICG. Ding Zhitao, Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Languages Press, and Yang Jianping, President of CICG’s Centre for Asia-Pacific, served as moderators for the opening remarks and discussion sessions.