China's Premier Li says willing to push bilateral ties with Malaysia

BEIJING - China's Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday his government is willing to promote bilateral ties and economic co-operation with Malaysia as Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad visited China to discuss trade and investment.

Mahathir is seeking to renegotiate, and perhaps cancel, billions of dollars worth of Chinese-invested projects entangled in domestic graft probes.

Ties have been strained since a stunning election victory returned Mahathir to power in May and he then suspended unpopular Chinese projects authorised by former premier Najib Razak.