Kuala lumpur: Malaysia and Turkiye have agreed to elevate their bilateral ties into a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) to accelerate trade, investment, and economic collaboration amid growing global uncertainties, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar, in a joint press statement with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emphasized that the agreement reflects strong mutual trust and confidence between the two countries. The enhanced cooperation aims to extend beyond traditional trade, incorporating new growth areas such as technology, defense, education, research, and Islamic finance.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar expressed gratitude for the opportunity to enhance cooperation into a high-level strategic cooperation council, noting that such collaborations are rare. Anwar is currently on a three-day official visit to Turkiye at Erdogan's invitation. During the visit, Anwar and Erdogan co-chaired the inaugural Malaysia-Turkiye HLSCC meeting. Anwar stressed the importance of swiftly translating commitments into tangible outcomes, noting that conventional bureaucratic processes are inadequate in the current competitive and uncertain global environment.
Anwar highlighted the need to expand cooperation beyond traditional sectors into new disciplines, advocating for educational and research collaboration supported by institutional mechanisms between the two countries. He pointed out Malaysia's defense cooperation with Turkiye, particularly in government-to-government procurement involving naval and aerospace assets, which has benefited Malaysia and introduced new collaboration principles based on good governance and transparency.
On international issues, Anwar reaffirmed Malaysia's support for Turkiye's efforts to address regional and global challenges, particularly the situation in Palestine and Gaza. He condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, describing them as a total disregard for humanity and justice, and affirmed Malaysia's support for initiatives aimed at defending oppressed communities. Anwar emphasized the need for a moral voice in global politics, highlighting the deficit in moral and ethical values in the political sphere.
The Prime Minister concluded by reiterating Malaysia's commitment to strengthening its partnership with Turkiye as a model of meaningful bilateral relations built on trust, shared values, and practical cooperation across multiple sectors.