KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - While reminiscing about his route to the top of Chinese politics, visiting Premier Wen Jiabao advised students at Malaysia's most prestigious university on Wednesday to pursue major accomplishments, not major job titles.

Premier Wen Jiabao is welcomed upon his arrival at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday. [Kamarul Akhir / AFP]

Wen made the remarks at the University of Malaya, where he was asked about what motivated him to go into politics.

Related readings:  Premier Wen meets with Malaysian PM on ties  Wen kicks off visit to Malaysia, Indonesia  Wen's visit very important to Malaysia, China  Wen to visit Malaysia, Indonesia

The premier said he worked for 14 years in the mountains and Gobi desert areas of Northwest China's Gansu province following his eight on-campus years, during which he focused on geological structure.

"During that time, I never thought that, one day, I might become a political leader, let alone China's premier," he said.

Wen explained that the opportunity that led him to the political arena was China's reform and opening-up policy that started in 1978.

In 1982, Wen was transferred to Beijing where he worked as a senior official within the Ministry of Mineral Resources and later entered the central decision-making body.

"I told you this personal experience of mine not because I want all the students here to copy me and follow in my footsteps. What I want to stress here is that I hope all young students aim for big accomplishments, not big titles," he said to rapturous applause.

Wen went to the university immediately after his arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

When asked why he wanted to start his visit there, he explained that the nations' governments were expecting to sign an agreement on Thursday that will recognize one another's academic degrees, something to which both sides have attached great importance.

Statistics show there are 16,000 Chinese and Malaysian students studying in one another's countries each year.

"To mutually recognize academic degrees and diplomas is not a simple thing, it reflects our respect for one another's culture, civilization and education at the higher level," Wen said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao takes a look at a China-Malaysia friendship photo exhibition at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 27, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

Gao Tingting, 21, a woman from Shaanxi province who is studying education at the university, said she was greatly encouraged by the move, and is likely to benefit from it.

"Usually, Chinese students who study in Malaysia cannot get as much attention as those who return from the United States or Europe," she said. "Now that the premier has endorsed it, it will be easier for us to get good jobs back home."