SEPANG — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has commenced a two-day working visit to Malaysia, marking his first official journey to the nation since assuming office.

According to BARNAMA News Agency, Kishida arrived at the Bunga Raya Complex of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 7.35 pm, where Deputy Foreign Minister and the Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia welcomed him. A guard of honour was presented to the Prime Minister by the First Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment.

During his stay, Kishida is set to engage in a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, focusing on the progress of bilateral relations and culminating in a luncheon hosted by Anwar. This meeting is part of a significant diplomatic exchange, highlighting the cooperative ties between Malaysia and Japan.

Furthermore, Kishida’s visit is notably timed with the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, emphasizing the long-standing relationship between the two countries. The visit is anticipated to bolster the Strategic Partnership established between Malaysia and Japan, which was elevated from an Enhanced Partnership during Kishida’s tenure as Japan’s Foreign Minister in 2015.

Both leaders are also expected to attend the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation in Information and Communications, a significant step in deepening collaboration between Malaysia’s Communications and Digital Ministry and Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Wisma Putra highlighted that Japan stands as Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner and detailed the substantive Japanese business presence in Malaysia, with a notable volume of Japanese projects contributing to the Malaysian economy.