On October 28, 2025, the 1st Working Group Meeting of the Bilateral Dialogue between China and Malaysia on the Management of Maritime Issues in the South China Sea was held in Guangzhou, China. Representative of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of Foreign Ministry of China HU Wei and Director of Maritime Security and Sovereignty Division of National Security Council of Malaysia Khairul Azhar (Nik) bin Abu Bakar co-chaired the meeting, with representatives from the two countries’ key maritime departments in attendance.

The two sides spoke highly of the positive progress of the bilateral maritime practical cooperation since the official initiation of the Bilateral Dialogue between China and Malaysia on the Management of Maritime Issues in the South China Sea last October, discussed matters regarding the preparation for the upcoming 2nd Bilateral Dialogue, promoted maritime cooperation in various areas, and exchanged views on the current situation in the South China Sea. After the meeting, the Malaysian working group visited South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences.