Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has earned accolades from China over his stand on technology company Huawei and for telling the United States as well as other Western nations not to threaten business rivals.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang's said the premier's statement was both “candid and unbiased”.

“Developing countries including China and Malaysia are entitled to the right of enhancing developing capabilities and science and technology.

“In an era of economic globalisation, countries, by pursuing shared development through win-win cooperation, are in fact creating broader development space and making the pie of common interests bigger for all to share.

“We hope certain countries will heed the advice from Mahathir, adopt a fair attitude towards the progress of developing countries and see more opportunities in their development,” he added.