ID :
162589
Mon, 02/21/2011 - 05:49
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https://oananews.org//node/162589
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PM NAJIB'S TRIP TO TURKEY SET TO BOOST BILATERAL TIES
From Khairdzir Yunus
ISTANBUL, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak's first official visit to Turkey from Feb 21 to 23 will further enhance the existing excellent bilateral relations and cooperation between Malaysia and Turkey, said Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.
He said the visit will provide an excellent opportunity for Najib and the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan to renew their friendship and to exchange views on issues of mutual interests.
"Malaysia is confident that the visit will enhance relations between the two countries to greater heights in the years to come," Anifah told the Malaysian media delegation ahead of the visit here Sunday.
"Malaysia notes with satisfaction the excellent state of bilateral relations between both countries. There is a strong desire on both sides to further enhance relations in all areas of bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit," he added.
He said both Malaysia and Turkey should explore ways and means to further strengthen the state of bilateral relations in various fields such as trade and investment, education, tourism, banking, finance, technical assistance and human capacity building, as well as science and technology for mutual benefit.
This is the Prime Minister's first Official Visit to Turkey since assuming the premiership in April 2009.
Anifah said the Prime Minister will be accompanied by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, as well as ministers of Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, International Trade and Industry, Defence, members of Parliament and senior government officials.
On Feb 21, Najib will call on President Abdullah Gul in Istanbul and the Prime Minister will then proceed to Ankara.
In Ankara, the programme will include a private meeting with his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well as a delegation meeting between the Malaysian and Turkish delegations headed by the two Prime Ministers.
Najib is also scheduled to witness the signing of a MoU between SME Corp.Malaysia and KOSGEB (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization), Turkey and the Agreement between DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd, Malaysia and FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.S., Turkey.
He is also scheduled to participate in the Malaysia-Turkey Business Roundtable Talks organised by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) and the Global Movement for Justice, Peace and Dignity co-organised by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) and International Movement for a Just World (JUST).
On trade and investment, Anifah said, Malaysia was pleased with the positive trend in the volume of bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.
He said bilateral trade between Malaysia and Turkey over the last few years had been increasing, except in the year 2009, due to the global economic downturn.
Total trade with Turkey in 2010 stood at RM2.5 billion (US$837.6 million) compared to RM2 billion (US$587.84 million) in 2009.
Balance of trade was in Malaysia's favour and Turkey was Malaysia's fifth largest trading partner in West Asia and 41st overall, Anifah added.
Anifah said Malaysia would continue to encourage Malaysian companies to further develop and expand their business activities in Turkey.
"The private sectors of both countries should be encouraged to explore new opportunities between both countries which could increase trade and investment."
He said Malaysia would also like to see more tourists from Turkey visit Malaysia as it offers many beautiful and interesting places to visit.
He said tourist arrival from Turkey for the period of January to November last year was 8,555 arrivals compared to 7,573 for the corresponding period in 2009.
Anifah said Malaysia would continue to extend its technical cooperation assistance to Turkey under the MTCP (Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme) and since the MTCP was made available to Turkey in 1983, a total of 239 participants from Turkey had undergone training in various courses in Malaysia.
He said Malaysia would also like to encourage more students from Turkey to pursue their post-graduate studies in Malaysia.
At the press conference, Anifah also announced the extension of Cevdet SEFER's service as the Malaysian Honorary Consul in Istanbul
for another three years. He has been the Malaysian Honorary Consul in Istanbul for the past eight years.
ISTANBUL, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak's first official visit to Turkey from Feb 21 to 23 will further enhance the existing excellent bilateral relations and cooperation between Malaysia and Turkey, said Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.
He said the visit will provide an excellent opportunity for Najib and the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan to renew their friendship and to exchange views on issues of mutual interests.
"Malaysia is confident that the visit will enhance relations between the two countries to greater heights in the years to come," Anifah told the Malaysian media delegation ahead of the visit here Sunday.
"Malaysia notes with satisfaction the excellent state of bilateral relations between both countries. There is a strong desire on both sides to further enhance relations in all areas of bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit," he added.
He said both Malaysia and Turkey should explore ways and means to further strengthen the state of bilateral relations in various fields such as trade and investment, education, tourism, banking, finance, technical assistance and human capacity building, as well as science and technology for mutual benefit.
This is the Prime Minister's first Official Visit to Turkey since assuming the premiership in April 2009.
Anifah said the Prime Minister will be accompanied by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, as well as ministers of Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, International Trade and Industry, Defence, members of Parliament and senior government officials.
On Feb 21, Najib will call on President Abdullah Gul in Istanbul and the Prime Minister will then proceed to Ankara.
In Ankara, the programme will include a private meeting with his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well as a delegation meeting between the Malaysian and Turkish delegations headed by the two Prime Ministers.
Najib is also scheduled to witness the signing of a MoU between SME Corp.Malaysia and KOSGEB (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization), Turkey and the Agreement between DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd, Malaysia and FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.S., Turkey.
He is also scheduled to participate in the Malaysia-Turkey Business Roundtable Talks organised by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) and the Global Movement for Justice, Peace and Dignity co-organised by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) and International Movement for a Just World (JUST).
On trade and investment, Anifah said, Malaysia was pleased with the positive trend in the volume of bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.
He said bilateral trade between Malaysia and Turkey over the last few years had been increasing, except in the year 2009, due to the global economic downturn.
Total trade with Turkey in 2010 stood at RM2.5 billion (US$837.6 million) compared to RM2 billion (US$587.84 million) in 2009.
Balance of trade was in Malaysia's favour and Turkey was Malaysia's fifth largest trading partner in West Asia and 41st overall, Anifah added.
Anifah said Malaysia would continue to encourage Malaysian companies to further develop and expand their business activities in Turkey.
"The private sectors of both countries should be encouraged to explore new opportunities between both countries which could increase trade and investment."
He said Malaysia would also like to see more tourists from Turkey visit Malaysia as it offers many beautiful and interesting places to visit.
He said tourist arrival from Turkey for the period of January to November last year was 8,555 arrivals compared to 7,573 for the corresponding period in 2009.
Anifah said Malaysia would continue to extend its technical cooperation assistance to Turkey under the MTCP (Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme) and since the MTCP was made available to Turkey in 1983, a total of 239 participants from Turkey had undergone training in various courses in Malaysia.
He said Malaysia would also like to encourage more students from Turkey to pursue their post-graduate studies in Malaysia.
At the press conference, Anifah also announced the extension of Cevdet SEFER's service as the Malaysian Honorary Consul in Istanbul
for another three years. He has been the Malaysian Honorary Consul in Istanbul for the past eight years.
