BEIJING - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi marked 30 years of diplomatic relations with China today by drumming up greater economic and trade ties while praising cultural links.

"It would be inadequate to describe relations between Malaysia and China merely as very friendly ties between two Asian countries," Abdullah said in a statement carried by the China Daily.

"Sino-Malaysia friendship is deep and strong ... our two countries have managed to transcend the many differences between us in terms of ideology and social systems to forge close and lasting ties."

Abdullah arrived late Thursday for a five-day visit, the latest in a string of leaders to seek closer integration with the emerging economic superpower.

Today morning, he opened a Malaysia trade exhibition in Beijing, while sitting in on a business seminar and luncheon.

He later meets with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, before holding talks with President Hu Jintao on Saturday.

Abdullah, who heads a delegation including nine senior ministers and 100 industry leaders, will also visit a Muslim mosque in Beijing and take a trip to China's eastern metropolis of Shanghai.

More investment

While commemorating the 1974 establishment of bilateral relations, Abdullah is expected to mainly push for greater economic and trading ties with China.

During a speech at a Malaysian trade exhibition Friday, he urged Chinese businessmen to invest more in Malaysia while also calling for stronger tourism ties.

Malaysia's trade with China in 2003 grew by nearly 24 percent over the previous year to US$14.4 billion, with Malaysian exports rising by 29 percent during the period to US$6.8 billion, he said.

"We are furthermore happy to note that the figures for bilateral trade for the first quarter of this year indicate a continuation of the trend," he said, adding that bilateral trade rose 38.4 percent over the first quarter of 2003.

According to Malaysian Ambassador to China Abdul Majid, Malaysian businesses have invested US$3.1 billion in China from 1996 to 2003, while Chinese businesses have invested some US$1.1 billion in Malaysia since

Prior to the trip, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said bilateral issues, regional and global developments would dominate talks when Abdullah meets the Chinese leaders.

Regional cooperation

Abdullah would reiterate Malaysia's "one-China policy," and discuss how China could boost cooperation with Asean, he said.

Syed Hamid said a string of Memorandum of Understanding would be inked by the two governments to train diplomats, to enhance trade and to cooperate in the scientific field.

This year has been declared as the Sino-Malaysia Friendship Year to celebrate the establishment of diplomatic relations on May 31, 1974.

But ties go back as far as the 15th century when Chinese admiral Cheng Ho, or Zheng He, arrived in southern Malacca state to trade. - AFP