12-11-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed that Malaysia and Iran are poised to bolster their bilateral relations, with a focus on fostering collaboration in the realms of economy, education, science, and technology. The announcement came following talks between Anwar and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the 8th Extraordinary Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, disclosed that the discussions included an exploration of opportunities for new cooperation between the two nations. He emphasized that the Iranian President welcomed Malaysia’s initiative to enhance bilateral ties, envisioning both countries as influential players that should actively contribute to the Islamic world.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Anwar shared insights from the meeting, stating, “At the meeting, the two of us also extended invitations to make an official visit to our respective countries. I also reiterated our commitment to holding a Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) between the two countries to fine-tune various fields of cooperation.”
Trade between Malaysia and Iran in 2022 reached RM3.68 billion, marking a substantial 40.2% increase from the previous year. Notably, oil palm emerged as the primary trade commodity between the two nations.
Anwar highlighted that the talks with the Iranian President delved into critical global issues, particularly addressing the ongoing attacks and atrocities by the Israeli Zionist regime against Palestine. Both leaders expressed their unequivocal stance against the cruelty inflicted by Israel and called for an immediate cessation of such actions.
“We also support all resolutions adopted by OIC, including the most important one of calling for Israel to immediately implement the ceasefire process. We also urge for more humanitarian aid to be brought into Palestine to help those in need and want OIC to play a bigger role, especially in the issue of universal humanity,” Anwar emphasized.
The commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties and collaborative efforts across various sectors signals a positive trajectory for Malaysia-Iran relations, fostering greater cooperation and solidarity on the international stage.
