After 50 Years, Malaysia-Argentina Ties Will Continue To Prosper - Ambassador

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz and Tengku Faezah Tengku Yusof KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Argentina will celebrate 50 years of bilateral relations in June this year, a golden jubilee, which has seen positive ties between the two countries in niche areas, and a promising future in the years to come. Argentine Ambassador to Malaysia, Manuel Balaguer Salas, said he was sure that relations between the two countries will continue to prosper amid shared special ties in sports, research cooperation, and investment, especially by Malaysian oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS). “Considering the distance and cultural differences between the two countries, we have had a wonderful 50 years together. We may not have achieved full potential in all areas, but we do share some symbolic ties such as the Petronas Twin Towers,” he said, referring to the tower’s designer Cesar Pelli, who hails from the Latin American country. Salas, who took up his post here last year, said this in a recent interview with Bernama at the news agency’s headquarters here in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Argentina and Malaysia. According to the envoy, most Malaysians were familiar with Argentine football, but the Latin American country was also significant in polo, and due to its expertise in the game and horses, Malaysia has chosen the country as the training destination for its 2017 SEA Games polo squad. Salas said that Malaysia and Argentina were also working together on the Antartica research programme, and he hoped to enhance educational research at the higher level of education such as in forensic medicine. “Moving forward, I hope to widen the relations and move to other sectors, which I believe have the potentials, such as renewable energy and infrastructure development as well as enhancing investment opportunities,” he explained. On the golden jubilee celebration, the Argentine embassy here has planned various colourful events ranging from literature, gastronomy, business seminars and festivals beginning next month. Salas said that the highlight would be on May 25, which would see the embassy hosting a joint celebration for the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations and Argentina’s National Day at the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, hopefully with Pelli in the attendance list. “Next month will also see the launch of the first ever Malay translated Argentine-literature “El Aleph” by Jorge Luis Borges. The translation project was in collaboration with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM),” he said. Very much aware of Malaysians’ penchant for food, the Argentine Gastronomy Week will be held from May 22-28 at the Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur where the locals’ palate would be introduced to some of Argentine’s typical meat dishes such as “Carbonada Criolla” or beef stew, “Bife a Caballo” or beefsteak with fried egg on top. The world renowned Argentine beef will be specially flown in for this event while the country’s top chef, Diego Jacquet, will “design” the special menus for the gastronomy week. The envoy said that Argentina would also be participating in Art Expo Malaysia and the Kuala Lumpur International Craft Festival in October and November, respectively, after a successful participation last year. Malaysia and Argentina established diplomatic ties in 1967. The Argentine embassy was opened in August 1983, while Malaysia opened its embassy in Buenos Aires in 1989. -- BERNAMA