KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Growth of China-Malaysia friendship has not only brought about substantial benefits for both peoples, but also made positive contributions to regional stability, prosperity and development, Chinese leader Jia Qinglin said here Thursday.

    Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remark when he held talks with Malaysian Senate President Abdul Hamid Pawanteh.

    Jia said bilateral relations have made great progress since the two countries established diplomatic links more than 30 years ago. He said high-level officials of the two countries have maintained close contact, which is crucial for improving political trust and pushing forward bilateral relations.

    Jia, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday evening for a six-day official goodwill visit, said that the two countries have achieved great results in exchanges and cooperation in such areas as trade, economy, agriculture, tourism, education and culture. Large-scale cooperative projects have made positive progress.

    According to Jia, two-way trade volume reached 30.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2005, more than 100 times that of over 30 years ago. The two countries have become major trade partners of each other.

    Jia noted that the two countries have maintained close coordination and cooperation on major regional and international affairs. As close neighbors, both China and Malaysia are implementing the consensus reached by their leaders on advancing strategic cooperation. The two countries share broad common interests, Jia said.

    Jia said China is ready to join hands with Malaysia to promote friendship, deepen cooperation and advance strategic cooperation. He said China and Malaysia will always be trust-worthy friends and mutually beneficial cooperative partners.

    Malaysian Senate President Hamid said that in the more than 1,000 years of exchanges between Malaysia and China, the two sides have maintained peaceful and mutually beneficial relations. The leaders of the two countries frequently visited each other, while trade and economic links became closer. China has became one of the most important trade partner of Malaysia.

    Noting that China shows great vigor and potential of growth, Hamid said Malaysia places great importance on its relations with China. He said Malaysia is ready to maintain the good momentum of bilateral relations, expand trade, investment and tourist cooperation so as to bring more benefits to the two countries and their people.

    Hamid said Malaysia will continue to stick to the one-China policy. He said Malaysia has always regarded Taiwan as an inseparable part of China's territory and fully aware that this is a principle issue concerning the core interests of China. Enditem