Moscow: The state visit of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, to Russia, which concluded today, marked a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations. This was the fourth state visit conducted by Sultan Ibrahim since ascending the federal throne on Jan 31, 2024, following earlier visits to Singapore, China, and Brunei.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, His Majesty arrived in Moscow on Aug 5 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, becoming the first Malaysian Head of State to undertake a state visit to the federation since diplomatic ties were established in 1967. During an official meeting with Putin at the Moscow Kremlin, Sultan Ibrahim stated that Malaysia regards Russia as a trusted and important partner, adding that the visit reflected his sincere wish to strengthen ties and cooperation.
His Majesty emphasized the spirit of friendship in his remarks, quoting a Russian saying, "friendship is more valuable than money." He expressed belief that this spirit will continue to shape the relationship between the two nations for the benefit of their people.
Meanwhile, Putin acknowledged the well-established political dialogue between Moscow and Kuala Lumpur, highlighting continuous engagement among various agencies. He also praised Malaysia's role in the Russia-Islamic World strategic vision group, seeing it as an effective platform for cooperation and mutual understanding between Russia and Islamic nations.
As part of the visit, Sultan Ibrahim traveled to Kazan, where His Majesty pointed out significant potential for enhanced collaboration with the Republic of Tatarstan in sectors such as petrochemicals, innovation, Islamic finance, and the halal industry. His Majesty also noted satisfaction with the growing engagements between the peoples of Malaysia and Tatarstan in economic, institutional, and cultural cooperation.
Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, is recognized for its cultural diversity and Muslim-majority population. The special flight carrying His Majesty departed Kazan International Airport at 11.08 am, with the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, accompanying His Majesty to the airport.