CAIRO: Malaysia and Egypt have agreed to work towards elevating their bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership in the near future, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that both countries are committed to strengthening bilateral relations in various areas for mutual interest and benefit.
"To achieve this, Malaysia will host the next Joint Commission Meeting and Bilateral Consultation in 2025," he said during a joint press conference with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi after a bilateral meeting at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace on Sunday (Nov 10).
Earlier, Anwar paid a courtesy call on El-Sisi at the palace during his four-day official visit to Egypt.
The two leaders held a four-eye meeting before the bilateral discussions.
According to Anwar, he and El-Sisi also agreed to expand cooperation in trade and investment, higher education, cultural affairs, defence and security, agro-commodities, and tourism.
He mentioned that both countries will leverage each other’s strengths and explore new potentials in the digital economy, renewable energy infrastructure development, transportation and maritime domains, as well as manufacturing and the semiconductor sectors.
"We (Malaysia) are quite fortunate because Malaysia has emerged as one of the important semiconductor hubs in the region, and we should be able to collaborate in this field.
"As the chair of Asean in 2025, Malaysia expressed its readiness to work closely with Egypt to promote Asean-Egypt relations.
"Malaysia also encouraged Egypt to advance its engagement with Asean, through its important role and being a founding member of the African Union,” he said.
Anwar expressed hope to work closely with Egypt and other BRICS members towards Malaysia's full membership in BRICS and to advance the Global South Agenda following Malaysia's endorsement by BRICS Leaders of the Modalities of BRICS Partner Country Category at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia on Oct 23, 2024.
He stated that El-Sisi’s support is crucial for Malaysia in its application to become a full member of BRICS.
According to Anwar, Egypt has a strong tradition of being one of the most profound voices for the global South and is regarded as a leading voice of independence and neutrality.
"And this is consistent with the Asean position we call centrality. We engage with all countries, are friends with all countries, but we maintain our independence and we collaborate with all countries, particularly in terms of trade investments,” he added. – Bernama
