BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes the participation of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which is to be held in Beijing in late April.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks here Tuesday while meeting with Muhammad Shahrul, the secretary general of the Malaysian Foreign Ministry, who is in Beijing for strategic talks between the two countries.

China appreciates Mahathir's promotion of Asian values and Malaysia's support for the Belt and Road Initiative, Wang said, adding that he is fully confident in the future of bilateral ties.

Mahathir looks forward to participating in the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, said Shahrul, adding that this shows the Malaysian side attaches importance to and supports the Belt and Road Initiative.

He also expressed the Malaysian side's hope for stepping up high-level exchanges and deepening cooperation in various fields with China.