Malaysian Paramount Ruler Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin's visit to China from Monday will enhance mutual trust and all-round economic cooperation between the two countries, Chinese ambassador, Wang Chungui, has said in Kuala Lumpur.

"The coming visit to China by His Majesty is of great significance to both sides which will also enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples in the two countries," Wang said in an interview with the local news agency, BERNAMA, Wednesday.

The paramount ruler, also called as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and his wife, known as Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid, are scheduled to visit Beijing, Xian and Shanghai during their week-long visit to China.

Wang said that Malaysia plays an important role in regional and international affairs and has also spoken out to uphold justice on major issues involving the legitimate rights and interest of developing countries.

"China attaches great importance to Malaysia's extraordinary role both in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and in the international community and will definitely continue our good coordination and cooperation," he said.

Wang said that the Chinese government is now carrying out its strategy of West China Development and rejuvenation of the old industrial base in the northeast.

"Preferential policies are offered to foreign investment in these areas and this will bring new opportunities for Malaysian companies to develop trade and increase investment in China," he said.

"China's entrepreneurs are also interested in cooperation with Malaysian partners in infrastructure, in the space industry and energy resources. I believe that more fields will be found and explored to strengthen and deepen our economic cooperation in the future," he said.

Wang said that China and Malaysia have maintained regular exchange of personnel that has served as a bridge for both sides to explore their comparative advantages and draw on the experience of each other.

China and Malaysia enjoy good relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in May 1974. In the past decade and more, the bilateral relations have been grown rapidly.

The total volume of the two-way trade between the two countries reached some 21 billion US dollars last year. About one million tourists from both countries visited each other in 2004.