Building a strategic partnership, defense cooperation is a symbol of trust

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is on a visit to South Korea from November 24-26, at the invitation of host country President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during a meeting on November 25.

According to the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this is Mr. Anwar's first official visit to South Korea since taking office in November 2022, taking place in the context that the two countries will celebrate the 65th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations in 2025.

According to Yonhap news agency, during the meeting between the two leaders, held on November 25 in Seoul, President Yoon Suk Yeol and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim agreed to build a strategic partnership to expand bilateral cooperation.

Speaking at the meeting, President Yoon said: "I hope that in addition to trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges, bilateral cooperation will expand to defense, the arms industry and emerging areas such as green hydrogen and critical minerals."

For his part, Prime Minister Anwar said Malaysia identified new areas of cooperation including artificial intelligence and digital technology, along with regional security, defense industry and economic partnership.

The two sides stressed that cooperation in the defense industry is a "symbol of mutual trust" under the strategic partnership and agreed to promote cooperation in defense research, development and technology.

In May 2023, Korea Aerospace Industries signed a deal to supply 18 FA-50 jets to Malaysia and is now inviting the Southeast Asian country to participate in the light attack jet purchase deal.

In addition, the leaders agreed to sign a bilateral free trade agreement next year to promote cooperation in services, investment and emerging industries such as biotechnology and green energy.

On the sidelines of the summit, the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate cooperation in critical mineral supply chains, carbon capture and storage technology, greenhouse gas reduction projects and tourism.

According to a joint statement after the summit, during the talks, President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Anwar expressed concern about the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea as well as the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

The Malaysian Prime Minister also expressed support for the South Korean President's vision of a free and unified Korean Peninsula, and welcomed Seoul's peace efforts in the region.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thu-tuong-malaysia-cong-du-han-quoc-cung-xay-dung-quan-he-doi-tac-chien-luoc-hop-tac-quoc-phong-la-bieu-tuong-cua-long-tin-295044.html