Malaysian PM
Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, accompanied by a high-level delegation, is set to arrive in Pakistan on Wednesday for a three-day official visit, as announced by the Foreign Office on Monday.
During his visit, Prime Minister Ibrahim will engage in meetings with Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, as well as other senior leaders. According to the Foreign Office statement, the two sides are expected to discuss an extensive agenda aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Malaysia across various sectors.
These discussions will cover key areas including trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, the halal industry, tourism, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people contacts.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch emphasized that regional and global developments will also be on the table during these high-level discussions.
She further noted that PM Ibrahim’s visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and will take place from October 2-4, 2024. The Malaysian Prime Minister will be accompanied by a delegation of ministers, deputy ministers, and senior officials.
Pakistan and Malaysia share a strong bond based on historical, cultural, and religious ties, and this visit is seen as a crucial opportunity to deepen these relations further.
The Foreign Office spokesperson highlighted that the bilateral ties between the two nations have been anchored in shared values, and the upcoming meetings will focus on enhancing collaboration in multiple fields.
Meanwhile, Malaysia has expressed its interest in boosting industrial cooperation with Pakistan. Last month, Syafik Firdaus Hasbullah, Deputy Head of Mission for Malaysia, stressed the need for increased collaboration between the two countries in areas such as defense, security, science and technology, renewable energy, and climate change. He also called for closer cooperation in education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
Speaking at an event organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Hasbullah noted that Malaysian exports to Pakistan have traditionally focused on agricultural products, textiles, and chemical goods. However, he pointed out that there is a lack of high-tech industrial cooperation, which both countries need to address.
Hasbullah emphasized the importance of improving the quality of products to meet global competitive demands. He stated that Malaysia is ready to assist Pakistan in enhancing its goods and services, offering training and guidance to Pakistani businesspersons through the Malaysian Technological Cooperation Program (MTCP).
Since the inception of the MTCP in 1980, over 700 Pakistanis have benefited from its courses, which include tourism, anti-corruption, counterterrorism, Islamic finance, the palm oil industry, and technical training.
In his remarks, Hasbullah also highlighted the progress made in Pakistan-Malaysia relations since their establishment in 1957, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, tourism, education, health, and science and technology.
However, he noted that the current bilateral trade volume, estimated at $1.78 billion, does not fully reflect the strong relationship between the two countries, and there is a pressing need for further cooperation in high-tech industries.
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