Kuala Lumpur:His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, attended a state welcoming ceremony at Istana Negara to mark the beginning of King Abdullah II of Jordan's two-day state visit to Malaysia, which commenced yesterday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sultan Ibrahim received King Abdullah II at 9.50 am. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan. Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, along with senior officials from the Hashemite Royal Court and the Jordanian government, were also present.
The welcoming ceremony featured the national anthems of both countries performed by the Royal Ranger Regiment Central Band, led by Captain Mohd Fahmy Harun, and a 21-gun salute by the 41st Battery of the Royal Artillery Regiment at the Istana Negara parade grounds. King Abdullah II inspected the Guard of Honour, consisting of personnel from the Malaysian Armed Forces, led by Major Muhammad Firdaus Mat Hayin.
Following the formalities, Sultan Ibrahim held a private meeting with King Abdullah II before they proceeded to the Main Banquet Hall for a state banquet in honor of the Jordanian King's visit. King Abdullah II arrived in Malaysia at the invitation of Sultan Ibrahim, marking his second state visit since his first in May 2008.
This visit underscores the longstanding diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Jordan, established in 1965, with strong ties particularly in education. Currently, 1,636 Malaysian students are studying in Jordan, while over 1,490 Jordanian students are enrolled in Malaysian institutions. Malaysia and Jordan also share a commitment to peace and justice in West Asia, especially concerning the rights of the Palestinian people.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has shown significant growth, with trade reaching RM993.4 million in 2025, a 15.2 percent increase from 2024. Further growth was recorded with an 8.0 percent rise to RM740.7 million from January to August 2026 compared to the same period in the previous year.