Malaysia’s recently elected Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad is looking to rebuild bridges with Beijing as he flies to the Chinese capital on Friday for a five-day visit that will include meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, the South China Morning Post reports.
The 93-year old has previously said that “unfairness” regarding China’s roles in investment projects in Malaysia would be a key talking-point during his visit.
Since taking office in a surprise electoral victory over his more China-friendly predecessor Najib Razak, Mahatir has opened reviews into some Beijing-backed projects and says he will take them back to the negotiating table.
Mahatir’s administration has already begun an investigation into the so-called 1MDB scandal, which has alleged links with the Chinese government, and has put the brakes on a $14 billion China-led rail project along Malaysia’s east coast.