Malaysia, Australia Review Progress Of Bilateral Cooperation, Pledge To Deepen Ties

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation across various sectors during the 6th Annual Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. 

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry in a statement said the meeting, jointly chaired by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong, here, Wednesday, reviewed the progress of the ongoing bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, particularly in trade and investment, energy transition, minerals, cybersecurity, digital economy, education, defence and security, as well as people-to-people relations.

“The meeting was also a follow-up to the 2nd Malaysia-Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne in March,” the statement read.

The Foreign Ministers also discussed and exchanged views on regional and international issues, including the situations in Myanmar and the Middle East, as well as the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

During the meeting, Wong expressed Australia’s support for Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025.

As ASEAN’s first dialogue partner, Australia has continued to engage with and embark on a wide range of cooperation across the three ASEAN Community pillars, the statement added.

According to the ministry, earlier, Wong paid a courtesy call on Anwar, where both sides reviewed the progress of cooperation agreed upon following the latter’s visit to Australia.

Anwar also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to attend the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Malaysia in 2025.

Separately, Wong held a bilateral talk with Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad to discuss cooperation in the critical minerals industry.

“Overall, this visit has further strengthened the existing cooperation within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), established in 2021 through robust economic partnerships and enduring people-to-people ties,” it added.

Meanwhile a joint statement issued by both foreign ministers noted the significant progress made on implementing the CSP since its inception in 2021 and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation across its three pillars: Economic Prosperity, Society and Technology, and Defence and Regional Security.

On economy, the ministers reiterated their commitment to prioritising efforts to modernise and energise the Australia-Malaysia partnership, to ensure both economies are digitally advanced, safe and resilient.

The ministers also expressed strong interest to explore more trade and investment opportunities, especially in pivotal sectors such as the green economy, agrifood, energy, digital technology, petrochemical and chemicals, electrical and electronics, and minerals.

Both ministers emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation in maritime security and cybersecurity while furthering cooperation on traditional and non-traditional security issues, including countering terrorism, violent extremism and other transnational crimes.

On regional and global cooperation, both ministers reiterated their commitment to promoting a peaceful, secure, stable, and prosperous region defined by respect for sovereignty and international law, including through implementing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

The joint statement further emphasised the global benefits of stable China-US relations and urged all nations to maintain actions that promote regional peace, stability, and economic growth.

The ministers welcomed the ceasefire agreement to bring an end to hostilities in Lebanon and expressed hope that it could serve as a catalyst for an end to the war in Gaza.

Both ministers reiterated their shared concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, strongly advocating for de-escalation and the need for a political resolution that achieves a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security within internationally agreed borders, based on the pre-1967 lines.

-- BERNAMA