BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held telephone talks Thursday with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak on strategic cooperation between the two nations.

Offering his congratulations to Li on his endorsement as the new Chinese premier, Najib said Malaysia would work with China to maintain friendly relations and promote cooperation in such areas as trade, science and technology, tourism, education, law enforcement and culture so as to foster closer relations between the two nations.

Li said China's new government would, as always, attach great importance to its ties with Malaysia.

China stood ready to work with Malaysia to promote cooperation, boost coordination in international and regional affairs and jointly safeguard the sound, steady development of China-ASEAN relations so as to make fresh important achievements in strategic cooperation between the two nations, the Chinese premier said.

Li was endorsed as Chinese premier on March 15 at the 12th National People's Congress annual session.