On January 17, 2023, Foreign Minister Qin Gang had a phone call with Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Qin Gang expressed that China is ready to work with Malaysia to take the opportunities of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership this year and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year to push the bilateral relations to a new level. China is ready to work with the new Malaysian government to fully leverage the role of the China-Malaysia high-level committee and other mechanisms, continuously advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and make solid progress in key projects. China is ready to deepen cooperation with countries in the region to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, and looks forward to working with Malaysia to deepen and substantiate the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Qin Gang said that the Malaysian government and various sectors of the society hold objective and just views on China's pandemic prevention policy, and welcome Chinese tourists to Malaysia, and China commends them for all this. Qin Gang said that he believes that with joint efforts, the two sides will soon restore normal personnel exchanges.

Zambry congratulated Qin Gang on taking office as Chinese Foreign Minister, and said that Malaysia and China enjoy a long-standing friendship, and Malaysia regards China as an important partner, attaches great importance to its relations with China, and is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges and cultural and people-to-people exchanges with China, and tap the potential of Belt and Road cooperation, so as to achieve greater development of bilateral relations.