(Tsinghua News Center) In a speech that covered the past, present and future outlook of trade between his country and China, the former prime minister of Malaysia was optimistic about the potential of the relationship.

“Malaysia is forever looking for markets and trading partners. It believes that China will become a major trading partner in the future,” Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamed told an audience of Tsinghua students at the School of Economics and Management on April 21.

“Trade does not follow a fixed pattern forever, and the nature and content of trade will change,” Dr. Mahathir pointed out.

For example, Malaysia’s exports to China a thousand over years ago consisted of products from the jungle such as scented timber and gum. Now, in addition to such items, Malaysia exports manufactured goods and components for various products. However, the percentage of manufactured goods will probably decrease steadily as China’s industrialization advances, and then later may rise again, he said.

Trade between China and Malaysia has been growing steadily, he said. This is due to the increasing wealth of China’s consumers, which is the result of China’s successful market economy. And China’s consumption capacity is far from peaked, he noted.

Dr. Mahathir said both the Chinese and Malaysian governments should do everything possible to stimulate trade growth, which can benefit from frequent communication between the two sides. The two countries also should establish a system to overcome bureaucratic obstacles and should proactively facilitate growth, he said.

Before his speech, Dr. Mahathir was awarded an honorary doctorate from Tsinghua by President Gu Binglin. Presiding over the ceremony was Zhao Chunjun, dean of the School of Economics and Management.

Reported by Liu Aixiang

Photoed by Guo Haijun