Ankara: Strengthening bilateral relations between Malaysia and Turkiye will give real meaning to the value of the strategic friendship shared by both countries, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said his first official visit to Turkiye, which began on Tuesday and spans three days, focuses on substantive discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation across various strategic sectors.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar's meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, scheduled for Wednesday, will centre on efforts to strengthen collaboration in areas including trade, investment, diplomacy, education, security, culture, and tourism. Anwar highlighted the importance of the visit, noting a light-hearted remark from President Erdogan, who joked that if Anwar did not visit, their friendship would be in jeopardy, as Erdogan had already visited Malaysia. This sentiment was shared during Anwar's speech at the 'Sentuhan MADANI' programme with the Malaysian Diaspora, attended by approximately 200 Malaysians, including key figures such as the Prime Minister's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and several ministers.
Erdogan had previously visited Malaysia on a two-day official trip in February last year. Anwar emphasized that this visit to Turkiye fulfills Erdogan's repeated invitations and comes nearly three years into his tenure as Prime Minister. He recalled his previous visits to Turkiye, first after a major earthquake and later during a stopover from Riyadh to Cairo to discuss support for the Palestinian cause.
Anwar's official visit commenced as he arrived at Esenboga International Airport at 7.13 pm local time. The visit is set to conclude on January 8. Malaysia's trade relations with Turkiye remain robust, with total trade from January to November 2025 reaching RM21.2 billion (USD4.92 billion). In 2024, Turkiye was a significant trading partner for Malaysia, being the third-largest trading partner, largest export destination, and fourth-largest source of imports among West Asian countries, with trade valued at RM24.15 billion (USD5.28 billion).