Kuala lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today embarked on a significant diplomatic mission, visiting Italy, France, and Brazil to enhance Malaysia's international relations and economic ties. The premier's journey commenced as a chartered Malaysia Airlines flight departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 2.15 pm, marking the start of an intensive series of engagements over the coming days.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, these visits aim to bolster bilateral relations and economic cooperation between Malaysia and the three major economic centers of Rome, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro. Collectively, these markets recorded a substantial bilateral trade value of RM50.91 billion (USD11.14 billion) last year. Accompanying the Prime Minister is a notable business delegation, including representatives from prominent Malaysian corporations like Petronas, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Maybank, FGV, YTL Power, and Sunway.
Anwar's visit to Italy marks his inaugural trip to the nation, undertaken at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In Rome, he will be joined by five Cabinet ministers, including Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Transport Minister Anthony Loke. The delegation also features the Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. The discussions are set to cover various sectors, further solidifying the relationship between the two countries.
In Paris, Prime Minister Anwar is scheduled to meet President Emmanuel Macron. Their discussions will focus on enhancing cooperation in trade, technology, and education. Anwar will also participate in a roundtable with France's industrial leaders, engage with the local Muslim community, meet Malaysian citizens residing in France, and deliver a lecture at Sorbonne University on July 4.
The final leg of Anwar's journey will take him to Rio de Janeiro for the 17th BRICS Summit, following an invitation from Brazilian President Luiz In¡cio Lula da Silva. As a BRICS Partner Country and ASEAN Chair for 2025, Malaysia will emphasize multilateralism, AI governance, climate action, and global health, voicing the aspirations of over 650 million ASEAN citizens. Anwar will be present at the summit as a partner country alongside Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Expressing optimism on Facebook, Anwar conveyed his hopes that the meetings in Rome, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro would strengthen ties, enhance trade, and unlock opportunities for Malaysians and the broader ASEAN community. "May each negotiation be eased and yield outcomes that can truly be felt by the broader public," he stated.