Dr Mahathir Mohamad has wrapped up the first phase of his maiden official visit to China as the seventh prime minister, after witnessing the signing of a joint venture in Hangzhou between Proton and China’s Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd that marks the national carmaker’s potential entry into the Chinese market.

Proton's parent company DRB-Hicom said in a statement that the venture includes establishing a production facility in China to assemble vehicles, and developing a network of dealers to market the Proton range in China.

The agreement also enables Proton to tap into Geely’s new energy technologies and to utilise its core technology platforms.

Proton is Mahathir’s brainchild, being the first national car project established in 1983 during his first tenure as the prime minister...