KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and the Russian Federation are exploring strategic areas of cooperation, including efforts to strengthen long-term energy and oil supply security, following talks between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), both leaders discussed various aspects of bilateral ties, with the energy sector identified as one of the strategic areas of mutual interest.
"Both sides also explored opportunities to expand economic cooperation and welcomed Russia’s commitment to long-term collaboration in energy and oil supply," it said in a statement on Thursday (June 18).
The discussions further covered potential cooperation in emerging technologies, cybersecurity, digital development, artificial intelligence (AI), modern agriculture and the pharmaceutical industry.
Malaysia and Russia also exchanged views on facilitating people-to-people movement through visa liberalisation initiatives and explored mechanisms to expand bilateral trade and investment using local currencies, namely the ringgit and the ruble.
The PMO said the Madani government would continue to pursue strategic and proactive measures to strengthen Malaysia’s energy security through international cooperation.
Such efforts, it said, are aimed at ensuring the stability, sustainability and resilience of energy supply for the benefit of the rakyat and the nation’s long-term prosperity.
Anwar is currently in Kazan, the capital and largest city of Tatarstan, Russia, to attend the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit from June 17 to 18.
