Malaysia’s Anwar looks back on relationship ‘well beyond affairs of state’ with Zhu Rongji

SCMP | Aug. 13, 2026, 7:30 a.m. | Original

Anwar joined a number of world leaders in paying tribute to the former Chinese premier who played a key role in opening up the economy

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Zhu Rongji pictured in 1996 with Anwar Ibrahim, who remembered the Chinese premier as a “good friend”. Photo: AFP

Laura Zhou and Khushboo Razdan

Tributes have been flooding in for former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji , the reformist statesman who played a leading role in integrating China’s economy into the global system and charmed neighbouring countries with his candid diplomacy.

In a deeply personal tribute posted on social media, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim described Zhu, who died on Wednesday at the age of 97, as “a good friend”.

The pair worked together to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, building a foundation Anwar said “still underpins our relationship today”.

But he also discussed the personal bond between them, writing: “My own memories of him go well beyond affairs of state. It was Zhu who arranged for me to visit Confucius’ home village, not to mention the majestic Tai Shan [a sacred mountain in Shandong province] and historic sites associated with Admiral Zheng He .

“On another occasion, during a visit to my home library, he surprised me with several Chinese classics he had personally selected. I still have them to this day.”

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong described Zhu as an “old friend” of the city state, pointing to his support for a joint economic megaproject between the two countries.

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