BEIJING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday pledged to enhance exchanges and cooperation with Malaysia.

During a 40 minute meeting with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Mohamad Yassin, Wen hailed the development of bilateral ties in recent years, especially the implementation of a joint action plan on strategic cooperation.

China will strengthen high-level exchange, mutually beneficial cooperation, people-to-people contact and coordination on major international and regional issues with Malaysia, so as to boost the good-neighborly friendship and benefit the two peoples, Wen told Yassin.

Yassin, on his first official visit to China as deputy prime minister, voiced Malaysia's expectations for Wen's visit.

Malaysia eyes China as a reliable partner and will expand trade and investment as well as cooperation in the economy, finance, infrastructure construction and humanitarian sectors, he said.

Malaysia will also enhance coordination and communication with China on international and regional affairs, he said.

Malaysia is China's largest trade partner in the regional bloc of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.