Malaysia: Malaysia appreciates the contributions of Pakistan's professionals, workers, and students in the country, which have helped strengthen relations between the two nations, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. In a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Anwar expressed the government's recognition of the value provided by the Pakistani community residing in Malaysia.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar emphasized the importance of Pakistanis working and studying in Malaysia, stating, "We will give preference for them to stay and contribute here." Anwar highlighted the historical ties between Malaysia and Pakistan, which have been strong since Malaysia's independence in 1957. These ties encompass cooperation in fields such as education, culture, defense, and the economy.
Both countries are keen on exploring new areas of collaboration, including defense, agriculture, the digital economy, energy, and technology-related fields such as STEM, ICT, innovation, TVET, electrical and engineering, and semiconductors. Anwar stated, "Our joint aspiration is that we need to further enhance this collaboration in all fields. We are in a period of geopolitical uncertainties, so in the field of defense, agriculture, now digital, energy, and new technology are new areas, which we can further explore."
The two leaders also shared perspectives on regional and international issues, including peace efforts in the India-Pakistan subcontinent and cooperation in combating terrorism. Anwar assured that with political stability restored in Malaysia, the government is ready to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan more effectively moving forward.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz, on a three-day official visit to Malaysia at the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar, was accorded an official welcome ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex. This visit serves as a reciprocal gesture to Anwar's official visit to Pakistan in October 2024, reflecting the deepening ties between the two nations.
Following the elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership in March 2019, Malaysia and Pakistan, which established diplomatic relations in 1957, reported total trade of RM8.07 billion (USD1.76 billion) in 2024, marking a 25.5 percent increase from the previous year.