Japan and Malaysia have vowed to boost bilateral cooperation as part of the second wave of Malaysia’s Look East Policy (LEP).

Speaking at a joint press conference after a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on December 12, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said bilateral ties will continue to be based on the LEP after 30 years of successful collaboration in its first phase.

Japanese investors should move up the value chain and focus on high technology as Malaysia is undergoing a transformation process to become a developed country as part of the LEP second phase’s purpose, he added.

Najib called on the Japanese investors to promote their strength in the areas of green technologies and renewable energy, waste treatment, and small and medium enterprises.

For his part, Abe said Japan will continue to assist Malaysia in its efforts to become a developed country by 2020.

The bilateral relationship was based on a multi-layer of ties and bonds of friendship that were developed under the LEP.
Japan is now Malaysia’s major investor with 1,400 companies operating across the country. Especially Malaysia’s manufacturing sector received 22.2 billion USD from Japanese investors in 2012.

Najib is on a working visit to Tokyo in conjunction with the summit marking the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations.-VNA