NEW YORK - Malaysia does not see China as indulging in power projection, but rather wanting to engage with neighboring powers to achieve a balance in region, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said.

Najib, who was the country's former defense minister, said he believes Beijing's military buildup "does not indicate it is moving in that direction".

Although "China has become more assertive than ever before, we believe China would want not to destabilize the region", said Najib, who is in New York for the 65th United Nations General Assembly meetings, speaking to a group of Council on Foreign Relations members on Tuesday.