Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin met Wednesday with former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

"We highly appreciate your efforts during your term as prime minister to promote Sino-Malaysian relations," Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top advisory body, told Mahathir in Beijing.

Mahathir retired after 22 years as prime minister in 2003.

China and Malaysia, both developing nations, enjoyed broad consensus in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, Jia said.

"We value the friendly and cooperative relations with Malaysia, and will work to push forward our ties," he said.

Mahathir expressed appreciation for China's "tremendous" achievement in social and economic progress, and applauded China's measures to cope with the global financial crisis.

He is visiting at the invitation of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.