PUTRAJAYA: Defence ties between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia are set for greater heights, with both countries agreeing to strengthen cooperation in military expertise, medicine and intelligence.
The two nations had also agreed on the formalisation of a high-level committee that would, among other things, see greater collaboration in the defence industry.
Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said this was among the outcomes of his visit to Saudi Arabia, on invitation from the Kingdom’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.
"Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and I held a series of constructive and fruitful discussions in a warm and friendly atmosphere during which we reviewed regional and international issues of common interests.
"We exchanged views on the prospects and ways to further develop existing bilateral defence relations, and to intensify cooperation in trade, economic, investment, military and security areas," he said in a statement on Friday (june 17).
Hishammuddin said a working group would be established between Saudi Arabia’s General Authorities of Military Industries, Mindef’s Defence Industry Division and the Armed Forces Fund Board on knowledge sharing and potential defence industry partnerships.
"On counterterrorism, both Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and I agreed to upgrade our cooperation in combating and curbing terror threats and extremism," he added.
Other matters discussed included cooperation between Saudi Aramco and Petronas on oil and gas, and economic and financial cooperation through opportunities with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund - the Public Investment Fund and the Saudi Stock Exchange.
"We also spoke on food security, which covers cooperation on halal industries and palm oil exports to Saudi Arabia from Malaysia.
"I will be reporting to the Prime Minister and related members of the Cabinet at the soonest in order to prepare for an upcoming visit by the Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia," said Hishammuddin.
