Turkiye-Malaysia Working On The First High Level Strategic Council Meeting
By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- The first Türkiye-Malaysia High-Level Strategic Council meeting may take place during Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s next visit to Türkiye, the timing of which has yet to be decided, said Türkiye’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Emir Salim Yüksel.
According to the ambassador, no date has been set for the first meeting of the council, which was one of the key takeaways from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s official visit to Malaysia from Feb 10 to 11 at Anwar’s invitation.
“That (strategic council) is the system that we proposed, and it has been accepted by Malaysia. I think now we will work on the modalities of this system and how we are going to forge it in the future.
“During the recent visit President Erdogan invited Excellency Prime Minister (Anwar) for an official visit (to Turkiye) as well,” he told Bernama after appearing as a guest in BernamaTV’s programme, The Nation: Diplomatic Dispatch at Wisma Bernama here Thursday.
According to Yuksel, the high-level strategic council represents a major step in bilateral cooperation, serving as a platform to monitor relations and guide future initiatives.
He said the council will comprise leaders from both governments, including President Erdoğan, Prime Minister Anwar, and several ministers.
Yuksel said Erdogan's latest visit to Malaysia which witnessed both countries exchange 11 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) is important and significant after Anwar’s last visit to Turkiye in 2023.
He also thanked the Malaysian government for the hospitality and impeccable treatment of Erdogan.
The documents exchanged during Erdoğan’s visit covered key areas, including energy transition, disaster management, defence, trade, and media collaboration.
Elaborating on those cooperations, Yuksel said the compatible, highly developed and advanced infrastructure of Turkiye and Malaysia will contribute to technology exchange and technology sharing.
The joint work in the defence industry coupled with technological advances will be an important asset that we (Turkiye and Malaysia) can enjoy over the next few years and maybe 10 years, he added.
On the Palestine issue, Yuksel said Turkiye and Malaysia plan to consolidate efforts for reconstruction in Gaza for the daily needs of the Palestinians.
In 2024, Turkiye was Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner, largest export destination, and fourth-largest import source among West Asia countries.
Total trade between Malaysia and Turkiye was recorded at RM24.13 billion (US$5.28 billion) in 2024, reflecting an 18.7 per cent increase from 2023.
-- BERNAMA
