KAZAN: The state visit of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, to Russia, which concluded on Sunday (Aug 10), marked a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.
This was the fourth state visit conducted by Sultan Ibrahim since ascending the federal throne on Jan 31, 2024, following earlier visits to Singapore, China and Brunei.
His Majesty arrived in Moscow on Aug 5 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and became the first Malaysian Head of State to undertake a state visit to the federation since diplomatic ties were established in 1967.
During an official meeting with Putin at the Moscow Kremlin, Sultan Ibrahim said Malaysia regards Russia as a trusted and important partner, adding that the visit reflected his sincere wish to strengthen ties and cooperation.
"As a Russian saying goes, friendship is more valuable than money. It is this spirit of friendship, I believe, that will continue to shape the direction of the relationship between our two nations for the benefit of our people," His Majesty said.
Meanwhile, Putin said that political dialogue between Moscow and Kuala Lumpur was well established, with continuous engagement among various agencies.
He also commended Malaysia's role in the Russia-Islamic World strategic vision group, describing it as an effective platform for cooperation and mutual understanding between Russia and Islamic nations.
As part of the visit, Sultan Ibrahim also travelled to Kazan, where His Majesty highlighted significant potential for enhanced collaboration with the Republic of Tatarstan in sectors such as petrochemicals, innovation, Islamic finance and the halal industry.
His Majesty also expressed satisfaction with the growing engagements between the peoples of Malaysia and Tatarstan in economic, institutional and cultural cooperation.
Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan, one of Russia's most prominent autonomous republics, known for its cultural diversity and Muslim-majority population.
The special flight carrying His Majesty departed Kazan International Airport at 11.08am.
Earlier, the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, accompanied His Majesty to the airport. – Bernama
