ID :
182043
Sat, 05/14/2011 - 07:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/182043
The shortlink copeid
UK-MALAYSIA TIES NEED POLITICAL NUDGE, SAYS ENVOY
LONDON, May 14 (Bernama) -- Bilateral relations between Malaysia and the United Kingdom (UK) need to be strengthened with a political nudge through regular exchange of visits of government leaders, said Malaysian High Commissioner to the UK Zakaria Sulong.
Describing Malaysia and the UK, both members of the Commonwealth, as "old partners", he said ties between them were good and that both enjoyed a “very strong tradition" of bilateral relations in many areas, including trade.
Notwithstanding historical ties between Kuala Lumpur and London, Zakaria said there was a need to continuously nurture linkages between them, including revitalising high-level political ties.
"There was a period of lost opportunities in the past 13 years as there had been no visits at the highest level. High-level exchanges are obviously missing,” he told Malaysian journalists ahead of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s working visit to the UK.
Najib is scheduled to arrive here Sunday for the two-day visit at the invitation of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OXCIS).
Zakaria said the new British government wanted to engage with new economies and developing countries, in particular Malaysia, as it is one of three Commonwealth countries in Southeast Asia. The other two are Singapore and Brunei.
The high commissioner said Malaysia could expect a strong commitment to further improve bilateral ties from the UK under Prime Minister David Cameron who is leading the new coalition government of Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.
Zakaria was optimistic of enhanced London-Kuala Lumpur ties with both Najib and Cameron at the helm of their respective countries, describing both men as "fresh government leaders".
Najib took office in April 2009 while Cameron came to power in May last year.
Besides education, which sees more than 12,000 Malaysian students
studying here, Malaysia and the UK are also strong allies in the Five Powers Defence Arrangement (FPDA) framework.
In terms of trade and investment, the UK is Malaysia’s third largest trading partner in Europe, after Germany and the Netherlands.
According to UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) statistics, the UK exported goods to Malaysia worth 1.22 billion pounds last year, placing Malaysia as its second largest export market in Southeast Asia after Singapore.
Zakaria emphasised that Malaysia should capitalise on London's policy pronouncements that it was now looking at enhancing and strengthening relations with emerging and developing economies.
"This is something new and we hope we can take advantage of that. There is ample opportunity to strengthen our cooperation that will be of mutual benefit, enabling the two countries to make up for lost time," he added.
Describing Malaysia and the UK, both members of the Commonwealth, as "old partners", he said ties between them were good and that both enjoyed a “very strong tradition" of bilateral relations in many areas, including trade.
Notwithstanding historical ties between Kuala Lumpur and London, Zakaria said there was a need to continuously nurture linkages between them, including revitalising high-level political ties.
"There was a period of lost opportunities in the past 13 years as there had been no visits at the highest level. High-level exchanges are obviously missing,” he told Malaysian journalists ahead of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s working visit to the UK.
Najib is scheduled to arrive here Sunday for the two-day visit at the invitation of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OXCIS).
Zakaria said the new British government wanted to engage with new economies and developing countries, in particular Malaysia, as it is one of three Commonwealth countries in Southeast Asia. The other two are Singapore and Brunei.
The high commissioner said Malaysia could expect a strong commitment to further improve bilateral ties from the UK under Prime Minister David Cameron who is leading the new coalition government of Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.
Zakaria was optimistic of enhanced London-Kuala Lumpur ties with both Najib and Cameron at the helm of their respective countries, describing both men as "fresh government leaders".
Najib took office in April 2009 while Cameron came to power in May last year.
Besides education, which sees more than 12,000 Malaysian students
studying here, Malaysia and the UK are also strong allies in the Five Powers Defence Arrangement (FPDA) framework.
In terms of trade and investment, the UK is Malaysia’s third largest trading partner in Europe, after Germany and the Netherlands.
According to UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) statistics, the UK exported goods to Malaysia worth 1.22 billion pounds last year, placing Malaysia as its second largest export market in Southeast Asia after Singapore.
Zakaria emphasised that Malaysia should capitalise on London's policy pronouncements that it was now looking at enhancing and strengthening relations with emerging and developing economies.
"This is something new and we hope we can take advantage of that. There is ample opportunity to strengthen our cooperation that will be of mutual benefit, enabling the two countries to make up for lost time," he added.
