Visit To Ethiopia Highly Meaningful And Productive - PM Anwar
ADDIS ABABA, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim described his maiden visit to Ethiopia as highly meaningful and productive, stressing that Malaysia-Ethiopia relations extend beyond ordinary diplomacy.
“Therefore, I will continue working to strengthen ties between our two nations, grounded in close friendship, shared progress and universal humanitarian values,” he said in a statement after attending a state banquet hosted by Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali at the National Palace on Wednesday night.
Anwar said during their meeting, he and Abiy also discussed bilateral matters relating to trade, investment, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and humanitarian concerns such as the suffering in Gaza and the conflict in Sudan.
“I told him that Malaysia-Ethiopia relations extend beyond ordinary diplomacy,” he said, highlighting the long history of ties between both nations, recalling the legacy of King Najashi, who granted refuge to early Muslims.
“So why do we need to fuel division when history teaches us the meaning of humanity and compassion?” he said.
While sharing that Malaysia’s MADANI framework emphasises not only material progress but also core values, Anwar noted that Abiy’s government is similarly advancing Medemer as a unifying philosophy for meaningful reform.
Anwar also expressed deep appreciation to Abiy for travelling to Kuala Lumpur last year to strengthen bilateral friendship.
This time around, he said, “Abiy not only made me work extra in Addis Ababa, but also made me walk from one museum to another,” referring to his busy schedule of cultural visits.
Upon his arrival on Nov 18, Anwar was taken to the Ethiopian Science Museum, which showcases the country’s technological development and symbolises its modern infrastructure progress.
Anwar also visited Friendship Park, a popular destination for Ethiopians and tourists who want to enjoy the greenery and beautiful landscapes.
On his second day of visit, he toured the country’s national landmark, the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, which commemorates the Battle of Adwa, fought on March 1, 1896, a historic clash between the Ethiopian Empire, led by Emperor Menelik II, and the Kingdom of Italy, under General Oreste Baratieri.
Taking place near the town of Adwa in northern Ethiopia, the battle marked a decisive Ethiopian victory and a major turning point in African history.
From Addis Ababa, the prime minister will proceed with a working visit to Johannesburg, South Africa, from today to Nov 23 to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit, and Nairobi, Kenya, from Nov 23 to 24, before heading home.
-- BERNAMA
