Malaysia’s path to full membership in BRICS received a significant boost after Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed strong support for accelerating the country’s entry into the bloc. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed the development following his meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday.
“President Xi stated his full support for accelerating Malaysia’s participation as a full member of BRICS. This is a great honour and a sign of support for our country to continue playing an important role on the world stage,” Anwar told Malaysian media covering his four-day official visit to China.
BRICS, established in 2009, now includes 11 countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia. Malaysia became a partner country earlier this year and has since been pushing for elevated status within the group.
Anwar emphasized that his discussions with Xi built upon the momentum from the Chinese president’s state visit to Malaysia in April, which saw the signing of 31 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements. He underscored the importance of translating these agreements into tangible results for both nations.
“I stated that this relationship must be translated into the immediate implementation of the matters that have been agreed upon. Only with quick action can this special relationship have a more meaningful impact on the people of both countries,” he said.
Beyond BRICS, Anwar highlighted Malaysia’s backing for China’s global initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), which were discussed during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.
Trade ties also remain a cornerstone of the Malaysia-China relationship. China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, with bilateral trade valued at US$106 billion in 2024. Anwar reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to boosting high-value exports such as electronics, aerospace, medical, and oil and gas products.
The endorsement from Beijing positions Malaysia closer to securing its place as a full BRICS member, reflecting both countries’ shared vision of strengthening multilateral cooperation and building a more inclusive global order.
