PUTRAJAYA, April 18 — A Chinese key leader called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at Malaysia’s administrative capital here today, signifying a prevailing warm Malaysia-China ties.

Najib received a courtesy call from Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau member Hu Chunhua and his delegation at the former’s office in Perdana Putra Building.

Hu, who is also China’s Guangdong province governor, arrived at 5.50pm where he and Najib met for about 45 minutes.

Also present were acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, the prime minister’s special envoy to China Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting and the Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang.

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Later, Ong said Hu reaffirmed that China-Malaysia ties remained strong despite the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 with 239 passengers and crew (including over 150 Chinese nationals) on March 8.

“The strong ties will not be affected by a single incident.

“The (relationship) foundation between Malaysia and China remains solid and both countries will work hard to overcome any challenges,” he told reporters.

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Ong said Hu also welcomed Najib’s visit to China at the end of next month in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Also discussed during the meeting were efforts to boost bilateral trade and Malaysia’s relentless efforts in the search of MH370.

“China has assured that it would assist as best it could in the search operation. The assistance has not stopped. This understanding is to preserve the good relations between Malaysia and China,” he said.

Hu, who is on a three-day visit to Malaysia starting yesterday, among others, attended the China (Guangdong)-Malaysia Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He is expected to attend a tree-planting ceremony at the Malaysia-China Friendship Park in Precinct 4 here on Sunday.

Hu, popularly known as “little Hu”, is also the CPC secretary of Guangdong province, one of leading economic centres in China.

Hu was appointed as a member of the 18th Politburo of the CPC in November 2012. He is one of the youngest members of the politburo touted as being groomed to become China’s next leaders in 2022. — Bernama