HONG KONG, Dec. 13 -- Malaysia is ready for greater collaboration and cooperation with China and the countries along the Maritime Silk Road, former Malaysian ambassador to China Abdul Majid Ahamad Khan, said here on Saturday.

He also said the cooperation between ports of the two countries is "in the process."

The former diplomat was referring to what Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Indonesia in October last year that China was willing to join hands with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in building a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which runs through the Straight of Malacca to India, the Middle East and East Africa.

"We are in the process of developing port cities collaboration between Qinzhou Port (of China) and the Kuantan Port (of Malaysia), " he said at a forum on ASEAN development.

"The Kunming-Singapore railway, as well as the proposed high speed train between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, are possible projects that could derive benefits from the Maritime Silk Road initiative," said Abdul Majid, currently president of the Malaysia- China Friendship Association.

According to him, there has been considerable excitement to the Maritime Silk Road initiative as it conjures huge infrastructure construction opportunities, acceleration of economic development and buildup of connectivity between ASEAN and China.

Maritime cooperation between ASEAN and China constitutes a vital linkage in connectivity between the two regions, he said, citing the ASEAN-China transport ministers meeting held in Myanmar last month where both sides reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in maritime transport.

"ASEAN expressed its appreciation to China's support of the ASEAN connectivity master plan and welcome the Maritime Silk Road proposal and the setting up of the Maritime Silk Road Fund," he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has promised that China will contribute 40 billion U.S. dollars to the Silk Road Fund which will be used to "break the bottleneck in Asian connectivity by building a financing platform."

China's proposal to build the Maritime Silk Road could be a potential boost and catalyst for infrastructure development in the ASEAN region, and "it fits into ASEAN's own integration and connectivity strategies," the former ambassador said.

Abdul Majid also called on ASEAN and China to work together to enhance mutual trust and maintain stability in the region to pave the way for another golden decade in ASEAN-China relations, adding "If implemented effectively, the Maritime Silk Road could be the vehicle of such cooperation."