PETALING JAYA: Malaysia and Australia have agreed on the need to increase scholarships and ease visa requirements for Malaysian students heading to Australia, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Both countries have also agreed to expand cooperation in the green economy, agri-food, energy, digital technology and critical mineral sectors while strengthening partnerships in the halal industry.
These were among the agreements reached at the 7th Malaysia-Australia Annual Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AFMM) in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday, the ministry said in a statement.
Malaysia and Australia were represented by their respective foreign ministers, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Penny Wong.
“Both Foreign Ministers reaffirmed the strength of the Malaysia-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), which continues to deepen across three key pillars – economic prosperity, society and technology, and defence and regional security,” the statement said.
“They also welcomed progress in new agreements covering immigration, transnational crime, education, maritime enforcement and trade facilitation,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministers also emphasised the need to further bolster cooperation in the education sector, it added.
This included allocating more scholarships for Malaysian students, increasing mobility programmes, expanding the operations of Australian universities in Malaysia, and easing visa requirements for Malaysian students.
“On security, both Foreign Ministers reaffirmed cooperation under the Five Power Defence Arrangements, the Malaysia-Australia Joint Defence Program, and Operation REDBACK.
“They also committed to strengthening maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber resilience, and efforts against transnational crime.”
Both Foreign Ministers discussed developments in the South China Sea, Myanmar, the Cambodia-Thailand conflict, and the situation in Palestine.
“They reaffirmed their shared commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, underscoring that Malaysia and Australia remain close partners working together to address global challenges and build opportunities for the future.”
