Putrajaya: Pakistan and Malaysia have reaffirmed their commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on strengthening economic and trade ties. This development comes after a meeting between Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, at Perdana Putra.
The leaders of the two nations expressed satisfaction with the progress in bilateral cooperation since the Malaysian Prime Minister’s visit to Pakistan last year. During their meeting, they exchanged views on a broad range of topics, including economic relations, investment, and joint ventures in sectors such as information technology, telecommunications, and green energy.
One of the key agreements reached was to increase the import quota of Halal meat exports from Pakistan to Malaysia to $200 million. Both sides also expressed satisfaction over the export of rice from Pakistan to Malaysia, which has exceeded its quota.
The discussions extended to regional and international developments, including the situation in the Middle East. The Malaysian Prime Minister acknowledged Pakistan’s role in peace efforts in Palestine, referencing a recent initiative by U.S. President Donald Trump. Prime Minister Sharif emphasized the importance of cooperation at multilateral forums like the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Prime Minister Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir and expressed gratitude for Malaysia’s support for a peaceful resolution in accordance with UN resolutions. The leaders also discussed strengthening Pakistan-ASEAN engagement, with Malaysia supporting Pakistan’s bid to become a full dialogue partner of ASEAN.
In a gesture of cultural exchange, the two Prime Ministers launched the Urdu translation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s book, “SCRIPT.” The Malaysian Prime Minister also hosted a special luncheon in honor of the Pakistani delegation, highlighting the warm hospitality extended during the visit.
Addressing a joint news conference, Prime Minister Sharif described the meeting as productive and noted that both sides align on most critical issues. He expressed Pakistan’s interest in learning from Malaysia’s expertise in technology and economic growth and emphasized the desire for collaboration on joint ventures.
The Malaysian Prime Minister highlighted the historic ties between the two countries and underscored the ongoing economic cooperation. He assured that Malaysia would facilitate the import of beef from Pakistan and emphasized the potential for cooperation in new technologies.
During the visit, Pakistan and Malaysia exchanged Memorandums of Understanding in areas such as diplomat training, higher education, and Halal certification. The ceremony was witnessed by both Prime Ministers, marking a significant step forward in the bilateral relationship between the two nations.