A moment to remember: Anwar meeting former Arsenal football player Mesut Ozil (right) in Istanbul during his official working visit to Turkiye. — Photo from the Prime Minister’s Office
ISTANBUL: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says his official visit to Turkiye has strengthened and further enhanced bilateral relations and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said his three-day visit, which began on Tuesday at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also provided an opportunity for both nations to explore potential cooperation across various fields.
He said this was evident when both countries capitalised on the visit by convening the first Malaysia-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) Meeting in Ankara on Thursday.
“This is an encouraging beginning because we do not have many bilateral relationships at this level.
“Such a high-level council must be jointly chaired by the president and myself.
“Of course, the decisions made will be implemented by the relevant ministers, who will be responsible for executing important and strategic outcomes,” he told a press conference before departing for home after concluding his official visit to the republic yesterday.
Anwar said key areas identified for further strengthening include investment and trade, as well as strategic cooperation in education, higher education, research and new technologies.
These include fields such as artificial intelligence, energy and rare earth elements, Bernama reported.
He said such an approach is crucial to ensure bilateral cooperation does not rely solely on traditional economic strengths, but also encompasses high-impact, strategic and future-oriented sectors.
Meanwhile, Anwar reiterated his appreciation to Erdogan and the Turkish government for the warm reception extended to him and the Malaysian delegation throughout their official visit to the republic.
“The welcome was exceptionally warm, extended in the spirit of friendship and as a mark of respect to Malaysia.
“We observed that some aspects of the reception exceeded expectations and can be regarded as an extraordinary honour to our beloved country,” he said.
Anwar’s official visit to Turkiye is part of ongoing efforts to further strengthen the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries.
From January to November this year, Malaysia’s total trade with Turkiye reached RM21.2bil, with the republic remaining an important economic partner.
Last year, Turkiye was Malaysia’s third largest trading partner.
It was also the largest export destination and fourth largest source of imports for Malaysia among West Asian countries, with total trade valued at RM24.15bil.
