Ankara: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's three-day official visit to Turkiye, which ended yesterday, marked a significant milestone, particularly with the establishment of the Malaysia-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the inaugural HLSCC meeting was jointly chaired by Anwar and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. This meeting underscored the robust diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Turkiye and their commitment to expanding strategic cooperation in investment, trade, defence, and education for mutual benefit.
The two leaders signed a Joint Declaration on the Establishment of the HLSCC, signifying their agreement to elevate bilateral relations to the highest level and opening a new chapter in Malaysia-Turkiye cooperation.
At a press conference to conclude the official visit, which was undertaken at Erdogan's invitation, Anwar emphasized that the establishment of the HLSCC places Malaysia among a small group of countries trusted by Turkiye for strategic cooperation at the highest level.
During the visit, Anwar also held a private meeting with Erdogan, focusing on efforts to strengthen Malaysia-Turkiye diplomatic relations and exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The two leaders also witnessed the signing of seven documents to enhance strategic cooperation between Malaysia and Turkiye across various priority areas, reflecting a shared commitment to building a more structured and progressive bilateral relationship based on strategic interests and long-term benefits.
Among the documents signed was a Letter of Acceptance for the procurement of a Multi-Purpose Mission Ship between Malaysia's Home Ministry and Desan Shipyard, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding between the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and the Information and Communication Technologies Authority of Turkiye in the field of Information and Communication Technology.
Efforts to strengthen Malaysia-Turkiye friendship were further reflected through a courtesy call on Anwar by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, with discussions focusing on regional and global developments and reaffirming commitment to enhancing bilateral ties.
The Prime Minister also received a courtesy call from Turkiye's Defence Industry Secretary Prof Dr Haluk Gorgun to discuss efforts to strengthen defence cooperation, including capability development and technology transfer.
In addition, Anwar attended a roundtable meeting with industry captains involving 46 companies from Turkiye and Malaysia to explore new avenues for cooperation in various industries.
Anwar's first official visit to Turkiye was further marked by a meaningful moment when he was conferred the Order of the Republic medal by Erdogan, in recognition of his role in strengthening Malaysia's relations with the republic.
As part of the visit, the Prime Minister attended the Sentuhan Kasih MADANI gathering with the Malaysian diaspora to engage with and strengthen ties between the government and Malaysians residing in Turkiye.
Turkiye is among Malaysia's important economic partners, with significant trade volumes recorded between the two countries in recent years.