PUTRAJAYA — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia’s strong and enduring partnership with Turkiye, highlighting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership in transforming his nation into a global player.
Speaking at a public lecture by Erdoğan during his official visit to Malaysia, Anwar praised the Turkish president for his clarity of purpose and conviction in reshaping Turkiye’s statecraft and national pride.
“For more than two decades, President Erdoğan has steered Turkiye through an era of extraordinary transformation, positioning it as an indispensable player on the global stage,” Anwar said, Bernama reported.
Erdoğan’s two-day visit, hosted at Anwar’s invitation, underscores the strengthening of bilateral ties, particularly in economic and technological cooperation.
The Turkish president reiterated Turkiye’s commitment to enhancing its partnership with Malaysia through joint production and advanced technological collaboration.
He noted that relations between the two nations were elevated to a “strategic partnership” in 2014 and further strengthened to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” in 2022.
“As befitting the deep-rooted and close relations between our peoples, we have begun strengthening our cooperation with concrete steps. Malaysia, with its dynamic economy and qualified human resources, is a leading country in this region,” Erdoğan said.
Economic cooperation remains a key focus, with Turkiye aiming to double bilateral trade with Malaysia to US$10 billion after surpassing the US$5 billion mark in 2024.
Erdoğan highlighted key areas of collaboration, including semiconductor technologies, automotive, and aerospace, as both nations seek to expand trade and investment opportunities.
Among the existing initiatives, Turkish Aviation Industries has created job opportunities for over 100 young Malaysian engineers, while the construction of a second batch of littoral mission ships by Turkiye is ongoing.
Erdoğan also pointed to significant cooperation on Anka-S unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as another milestone in Malaysia-Turkiye relations.
Beyond economic ties, education remains an area of mutual interest. Erdoğan revealed plans to establish a Turkish Maarif Foundation school in Malaysia as part of efforts to strengthen cultural and academic exchange between the two countries.
He also invited Malaysian students to explore educational opportunities in Turkiye, which has made substantial investments in education.
Erdoğan further commended Malaysia’s role as ASEAN chair this year, acknowledging the country’s achievements in diplomacy, manufacturing, finance, and trade under Anwar’s leadership.
“I sincerely hope this new term under Anwar’s leadership will be instrumental in strengthening the cooperation between our country and ASEAN,” he said.
Erdoğan’s visit, accompanied by First Lady Emine Erdoğan, marks another milestone in Malaysia-Turkiye relations, reinforcing their shared commitment to strategic cooperation and long-term partnership.
Earlier, he was also awarded an honorary doctorate in International Relations by Universiti Malaya (UM) in recognition of his significant contributions to global diplomacy and international negotiations. — February 10, 2025