Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on January 10 met with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to the Southeast Asian country, pledging to enhance cooperation in addressing urgent regional and international challenges, including tensions in the East Sea, the Middle East, and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.
During a joint press conference, PM Ishiba affirmed that both countries agreed to maintain close communication on these issues and strengthen their shared commitment to promoting peace and stability.
Emphasising Malaysia's strategic role as a bridge between Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Ishiba stated that Japan values cooperation with Malaysia in addressing regional challenges and leveraging the deep insights and economic expertise of East Asia.
He also expressed Japan's commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation with Malaysia in disaster risk management.
Japan and Malaysia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and focusing on enhancing the resilience of supply chains in line with Prime Minister Anwar's MADANI framework, prioritising sustainability, innovation, and prosperity.
Ishiba described this agreement as a significant step toward promoting economic growth and regional stability.
He noted that Malaysia's strategic location at the crossroads of the Indian and Pacific Oceans underscores its importance as a regional hub and highlighted Malaysia as a comprehensive strategic partner that shares core values and principles with Japan.
Regarding Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, he stated that through initiatives such as the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific and realising a free and open Indo-Pacific, Japan aims to closely collaborate with Malaysia to lead the world toward cooperation.
Japan is the fourth-largest foreign investor in Malaysia's manufacturing sector and its fourth-largest trading partner, with a total trade value of 34.41 billion USD in 2023./.
