Anwar arrives in Shanghai for three-day working visit

Shanghai welcomed Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday for a three-day working visit aimed at bolstering Malaysia-China relations, enhancing commerce, and fostering joint efforts in cutting-edge fields. The delegation of Anwar and his team touched down at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 5.10pm local time, coinciding with Malaysian time.

Upon arrival, he was greeted by Malaysian Ambassador to China Datuk Norman Muhamad, Consul General of Malaysia in Shanghai Abdullah Ma’amor Ibrahim, Shanghai Vice-Mayor Wang Huajie, China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing, and Su Lin, a member of the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office’s Party Leadership Group.

Anwar, who serves as both Prime Minister and Finance Minister, is the fourth Malaysian leader to pay a state visit to China since assuming office in 2022. The itinerary for the visit includes pivotal high-level meetings and engagements. On Thursday, Anwar is poised to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Hangzhou, the bustling capital of Zhejiang province.

Upon arrival in Shanghai, Anwar is set to participate in the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 event, held at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC). At this international skills competition, he will deliver a keynote address at the plenary session of the WorldSkills Conference 2026 on Wednesday. Additionally, Anwar is scheduled to attend the Fifth Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, where Malaysia and Hungary have been honored as Guest Countries of Distinction.

The expo, one of China's premier digital economy platforms, will feature a keynote address from Anwar, spotlighting artificial intelligence (AI) and global collaboration.

Throughout his stay, Anwar is anticipated to engage in constructive dialogue with prominent Chinese industry professionals, participating in a roundtable discussion and one-on-one meetings with key industry and technology leaders. This interaction aims to stimulate foreign direct investment in Malaysia. Notably, China has consistently been Malaysia’s top trading partner for an impressive 17 consecutive years, with total bilateral trade soaring to USD113.82 billion (RM456.68 billion) from January through August of this year.