Malaysia, China deepen transport ties with new MoU covering land, rail, air and sea

Malaysia and China step up transport cooperation from rail and aviation to logistics. — Picture from Facebook/Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia

First Published: Wednesday, 23 Sep 2026 11:29 AM MYT

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 23 — Malaysia and China are strengthening strategic cooperation in the transport sector through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Transport Cooperation, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said.

In a statement today, MOT said the MoU was signed following a bilateral meeting between Transport Minister Anthony Loke and his Chinese counterpart Liu Wei during Loke’s official visit to Beijing.

“The MoU establishes a formal framework for bilateral strategic cooperation covering land, rail, maritime and air transport, as well as the logistics sector.

“Among the areas of focus are the exchange of technical expertise, capacity building, the use of artificial intelligence technology, green transport and the development of low-carbon infrastructure,” it said.

At the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on efforts to expand strategic cooperation in the transport sector and enhance the connectivity, efficiency and sustainability of the transport systems of both countries.

The statement said the cooperation is expected to enhance Malaysia’s capacity in policymaking, strengthen supply chain efficiency, attract Chinese technology investments and, in turn, strengthen Malaysia’s role as a regional transport hub for Asean.

Loke also witnessed the signing of an MoU on Civil Aviation Safety Cooperation between the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), which was signed by CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud and CAAC deputy administrator Hu Zhenjiang.

“The CAAM-CAAC cooperation covers the approval of qualifications, certification and oversight of aviation organisations, licensing and oversight of flight operations.

“The MoU will help strengthen Malaysia’s civil aviation safety standards, reduce duplication in technical processes and facilitate the movement of aeronautical products and services between the two countries,” it said.

According to MOT, Loke also paid a courtesy call on National Railway Administration of China administrator Song Xiude to exchange views on the development and regulation of the rail sector, operational safety, capacity building and the use of technology in rail systems.

“The visit reflects the close and mature relations between Malaysia and China, as well as the commitment of both countries to translate those relations into practical, high-impact and mutually beneficial transport cooperation,” MOT said. — Bernama