This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on August 17, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will make an official visit to China from today until Aug 21 at the invitation of China’s Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang.

In a statement yesterday, the foreign affairs ministry said Dr Mahathir and Li will witness the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to mark the strengthening of the Kuala Lumpur-Beijing strategic partnership. The MoUs are in the areas of agriculture and agricommodity, the statement said.

According to the statement, Dr Mahathir will be accompanied by his spouse Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali. The delegation includes Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok Suh Sim, International Trade and Industry Minister Ignatius Darell Leiking, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Datuk Liew Vui Keong, Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof and Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu, according to the statement.

“This is the maiden visit by the prime minister (Dr Mahathir) to the PRC (People’s Republic of China) after assuming office in May. The prime minister visited the PRC seven times during his term as the fourth prime minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003.

“During the visit, the prime minister will be visiting Hangzhou and Beijing. In Hangzhou, the prime minister is scheduled to meet provincial leaders, undertake a visit to Alibaba Group corporate headquarters and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.

“In Beijing, the prime minister will be meeting Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping respectively to discuss bilateral issues as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the statement added.

On July 20, Saifuddin was reported as saying that Dr Mahathir’s upcoming trip to China is expected to address issues beyond renegotiating agreements for megaprojects signed with the previous Barisan Nasional administration.

As part of Putrajaya’s cost-cutting measures, Dr Mahathir has announced the suspension of several megaprojects involving Chinese firms. The projects include the East Coast Rail Link and two gas pipeline projects — the Multi-Product Pipeline in Melaka valued at RM5.35 billion and the RM4.06 billion Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline.