Kuala Lumpur:Malaysia and Egypt are set to expand their educational cooperation beyond Islamic studies to include fields such as engineering, medicine, electrical and electronics, digital technology, and Artificial Intelligence.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized the need for both countries to widen their educational collaboration to address the growing demand for expertise in technical and professional fields. He noted that while Al-Azhar University remains important for Islamic education, particularly in promoting the Wasatiyyah approach, the partnership should also extend to other areas of study.
Anwar highlighted that numerous Malaysian doctors have trained in Egypt, showcasing the enduring educational ties between the two nations. He also acknowledged Egypt's role in Islamic affairs cooperation, including its support for Malaysia's Arabic centre, following a visit by Sheikh Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb. Malaysia aims to continue working with Egypt through relevant agencies and ministries to bolster cooperation in Islamic affairs.
Additionally, the Prime Minister called for enhanced defence cooperation, proposing collaboration on defence needs and joint training, despite the geographical distance between the countries.
Earlier, Anwar and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi held a meeting at the Seri Perdana Complex, marking a significant step towards elevating Malaysia-Egypt relations to a Strategic Partnership after over six decades of diplomatic ties. This meeting, part of El-Sisi's two-day State Visit to Malaysia, allowed both leaders to review bilateral cooperation, explore new collaboration opportunities, and discuss regional and international matters of mutual interest.
The Egyptian President's visit, his first State Visit to Malaysia since taking office in June 2014, aims to strengthen political, economic, and diplomatic relations between the two nations. In the previous year, Egypt was Malaysia's seventh-largest trading partner in Africa, with bilateral trade reaching RM3.08 billion (US$0.72 billion). From January to August 2026, bilateral trade surged 74.7 percent to RM3.49 billion (US$0.87 billion).