Day: May 17, 2024

ASTANA, – Malaysia and Kazakhstan have agreed to continue strengthening their ties, established on March 16, 1992, and exploring new areas of cooperation.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the agreement was reached during his meeting with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the President Palace (Ak Orda) yesterday, which was followed by a bilateral meeting of their respective delegations.

Anwar, who is also the Minister of Finance, said the meeting broadly discussed cooperation between the two countries, covering sectors such as trade, investment, higher education, tourism, and the halal industry.

‘The Malaysian delegation and I attended the official welcoming ceremony by Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the President Palace.

‘After the ceremony, President Tokayev and I had a four-eye meeting to discuss important matters concerning the relationship between Malaysia and Kazakhstan, as well as touching on international issues of mutual interest,’ he said via the X account.

The Prime Minister mentioned that he and the Malaysian delegation were also honoured with a dinner banquet, in addition to being escorted on a tour of the Palace by Tokayev.

The Prime Minister’s delegation includes Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, along with senior officials of various ministries and agencies.

Anwar arrived here yesterday for a two-day official visit to Kazakhstan aimed at further strengthening the ties and cooperation between the two countries.

The last visit by the Malaysian Prime Minister to Kazakhstan, the largest Central Asian country with a population of almost 20 million, was in 2014.

Upon their arrival at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, Anwar and his delegation visited the Astana Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in Cen
tral Asia and one of the largest mosques in the world, which serves as a significant religious centre in the city.

Kazakhstan, the ninth largest country in the world, is home to around 20 million people, with a Muslim population of over 70 per cent.

Today, the Prime Minister is slated to deliver a keynote address at the Round Table Session focusing on trade and investment cooperation between Malaysia and Kazakhstan here.

Anwar is also scheduled to witness the exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) involving relevant government agencies and businesses from both sides.

Malaysia’s total trade with Kazakhstan in 2023 stood at RM474.5 million (US$104.2 million), with RM465.6 million (US$102.2 million) being exports of Malaysian goods to Kazakhstan and RM8.9 million (US$1.9 million) being the value of imports from Kazakhstan.

Anwar had earlier made an official visit to Kyrgyzstan. After this, the Prime Minister will proceed with an official visit to Uzbekistan.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The Kingdom of Cambodia and the Republic of Romania have agreed to deepen bilateral and multilateral relations for their mutual interest.

The agreement was made during the meeting here on May 17 between H.E. Ms. PHEN Savny, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and H.E. Ms. Cristina Romila, Ambassador of the Republic of Romania to the Kingdom of Cambodia with residence in Hanoi.

H.E. Under Secretary of State noted with satisfaction the good friendship and cooperation between both countries over the past years, while H.E. Ms. Cristina Romila highlighted the positive outcome of the two previous bilateral consultations between Cambodia and Romania as well as the recent achievements on bilateral relations.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations, emphasising their shared goals and collaborative efforts in various fields specifically in the field of education. This renewed dedication to partnership will un
doubtedly pave the way for even greater mutual benefits and advancements to benefits both countries and peoples in the future.

Earlier on the same day, H.E. Ms. PHEN Savny also received a call by H.E. Pedro Zwahlen, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederaion to the Kingdom of Cambodia with residence in Bangkok.

During the cordial meeting, H.E. Ms. Phen Savny expressed her deep thanks to the Swiss Confederation for its invaluable assistance to Cambodia and its close cooperation over the years, while contributing to invaluable work made to Kantha Bopha Hospital for Cambodian children and women.

H.E. Pedro ZWAHLEN noted with satisfaction the continued partnerships between both countries in various sectors including health.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitments to further strengthen the bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries as well as within the international frameworks.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

TASHKENT: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived here on Friday for his inaugural three-day official visit to Uzbekistan, aimed at enhancing bilateral relations in various fields between the two countries.

The special aircraft carrying the prime minister from Kazakhstan landed at the Tashkent International Airport here at 2.15 pm local time (5.15 pm Malaysian time).

Upon arrival, Anwar was greeted by Uzbekistan Prime Minister Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, Tashkent Mayor Shavkat Umrzakov, Uzbekistan Ambassador to Malaysia Karomidin Gadoev and Malaysian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Ilham Tuah Illias.

The visit to the country, according to the Foreign Ministry, is at the invitation of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Uzbekistan is the last stop of Anwar’s visit to three Central Asian countries. Anwar had earlier made an official visit to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

During his visit to Uzbekistan, the prime minister would be accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk
Seri Mohamad Hassan, Minister of International Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

From the airport, the prime minister will depart to the Independence Monument in Yangi Uzbekistan Park for the Wreath Laying Ceremony and later to the Kuksaroy Presidential Residence where he is scheduled to meet President Mirziyoyev for a bilateral meeting to discuss relations between Malaysia and Uzbekistan, as well as explore potential areas of cooperation.

On Saturday, the prime minister will visit the Imam Hazrati Complex, where the original manuscript of the Caliph Usman Quran (Mashaf Uthmani) – the oldest in the world – is kept and displayed.

From Tashkent, the prime minister will travel to Samarkand, where he is expected to address the High-Level Uzbekistan-Malaysian Business Forum held at the Silk Road Samarkand Tourism Complex.

Malaysia and Uzbekistan have enjoyed close relations since they established ties in 1992.

Uzbekistan is a landlocked country surrounded by five countries: Kazakhstan to the north, Kyrgyzstan to the northeast, Tajikistan to the southeast, Afghanistan to the south and Turkmenistan to the southwest.

In 2023, Malaysia-Uzbekistan’s total trade was RM451.1 million (US$94.03 million), with exports to Uzbekistan amounting to RM449 million (US$93.6 million) and imports amounting to RM1.99 million (US$414,518).

The last visit of a Malaysian prime minister to Uzbekistan was made by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2008.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Cambodian President of the Senate, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, received here this morning a visiting French Senator for Seine and Marne H.E. Vincent ÉBLÉ, President of French-Cambodian Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group.

In the meeting, Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed his warm welcome to H.E. Vincent ÉBLÉ’s visit to Cambodia, hoping that it will further strengthen the relations and cooperation between France and Cambodia.

The senate president thanked France for her contribution to Cambodia’s socio-economic development, and briefed his guest on the current situation in Cambodia.

For his part, H.E. Vincent ÉBLÉ said he is delighted to visit Cambodia once again, after he paid ten visits to the Kingdom, both private and official, and congratulated Cambodia on her progress.

He also shared his insights over tourism perceptions, cultural preservation projects, French investment in Cambodia, etc.

Besides, Samdech Techo Hun Sen and H.E. Vincent ÉBLÉ exchanged views on Francophonie, Russia-Ukrai
ne War, and so on.

H.E. Vincent ÉBLÉ reaffirmed the French government’s support to Cambodia’s candidacy to host the Francophonie Summit in 2026.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse