PM Anwar, President Erdogan Hold Inaugural High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council Meeting

From Muhammad Saufee Rosman

ANKARA, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Turkiye marked a historic milestone today as the leaders of both countries jointly chaired the inaugural Malaysia-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) meeting, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations across multiple sectors.

The strategic meeting was held in conjunction with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s three-day official visit to Turkiye, which began yesterday at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The meeting took place after Anwar received an official welcoming ceremony by Erdogan at the Presidential Complex here.

It was formally preceded by a four-eyed meeting between the two leaders, followed by the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of the HLSCC.

The HLSCC provides a structured and institutional framework to further elevate bilateral cooperation, reflecting the close and longstanding ties between Malaysia and Turkiye.

The council also serves as a key platform for both countries to review bilateral cooperation, assess the progress of ongoing initiatives and explore new avenues of collaboration.

Discussions under the HLSCC are expected to cover a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, agriculture and commodities, defence, security, energy, semiconductors, health, tourism, education and people-to-people exchanges, as well as regional and international matters of mutual interest.

Malaysia’s total trade with Turkiye from January to November 2025 amounted to RM21.2 billion (USD4.92 billion), with the republic continuing to be an important economic partner for Malaysia.

In 2024, Turkiye was Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner, largest export destination and fourth-largest source of imports among West Asian countries, with total trade valued at RM24.15 billion (USD5.28 billion).

-- BERNAMA