PM to meet France's top leaders during visit
Having arrived yesterday, Anwar is scheduled for a morning meeting with his counterpart, Francois Bayrou.
He was earlier accorded an official welcome at the Hôtel des Invalides.
"Honoured to receive an official ceremonial welcome from the government of France, a meaningful and dignified gesture that reflects the longstanding friendship and mutual respect between Malaysia and France.
"As we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, Malaysia remains steadfast in working with partners such as France to champion multilateralism, reinforce peace and stability, and build a more just and sustainable future for all," he said.
Anwar is scheduled to hold a one-on-one meeting with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, with key agenda items including trade, investment, renewable energy, semiconductors, defence, education, digital economy, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Both leaders are also expected to touch on the crisis in the Middle East, especially the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Anwar will also join the Muslim community leaders here for Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque of Paris, one of the oldest mosques in France.
Further strengthening bilateral relations, the prime minister will deliver a lecture titled 'Southeast Asia and Europe: Recalibrating the Terms of Engagement' at the prestigious Sorbonne University, a world-renowned institution in the intellectual and cultural spheres.
Anwar's delegation includes Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Also accompanying the Prime Minister is Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
As part of the plan to attract global investment, especially from France, Anwar is also scheduled to attend a roundtable meeting with French captains of industry. Among the companies are Imerys, Arkema, Airbus and Thales.
France remains one of Malaysia's top five trading partners within the European Union.
In 2024, bilateral trade totalled RM15.95 billion (USD3.63 billion), with RM6.26 billion (USD1.49 billion) recorded between January and May this year.
Following his engagements in France, Anwar will head to Brazil to attend the BRICS Leaders Summit from July 5 to 7.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Malaysia upholds free trade principles for economic growth
ROME: Malaysia continues to stand firm in its support for free and open trade as a foundation for sustainable and inclusive economic growth, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated. Speaking at the Malaysia-Italy Economic Partnership Roundtable, Anwar emphasised the importance of global stability and cross-border collaboration in driving economic prosperity. The session, co-chaired by Anwar and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, gathered over 100 companies from both nations, spanning manufacturing, services, and trade sectors. 'This meeting underscores our shared dedication to expanding trade and investment opportunities between Malaysia and Italy,' Anwar said. He highlighted Malaysia's openness to foreign investment, efficient governance, and competitive economy as key factors attracting Italian businesses. The discussion also explored potential collaborations in renewable energy, digital economy, aerospace, and high-tech industries—sectors aligned with Malaysia's economic reform agenda. Anwar noted that active participation from leading firms signals strong prospects for high-impact bilateral partnerships. 'These strategic sectors offer immense potential for innovation and mutual growth,' he added.
BusinessToday
3 hours ago
- BusinessToday
Stock Today: Capital A Slips At Midday As MAG Eyes Bigger Jet Deal With Airbus
Capital A Bhd's shares edged 1.18% lower to RM0.84 by midday Thursday, shedding one sen from the previous close, as trading momentum softened ahead of wider sector developments. The counter hovered between RM0.835 and RM0.855, with over 4.8 million shares traded by 2.06pm. The market's subdued sentiment came as industry attention turned to Malaysia Aviation Group's (MAG) potential aircraft order expansion. According to industry sources, MAG, the parent of Malaysia Airlines, is close to firming up an order for additional Airbus A330neo long-haul jets, with a possible announcement expected during Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to Paris this week. While the deal has no direct bearing on Capital A, which operates the low-cost AirAsia fleet, the anticipated order underscores MAG's growth ambitions in full-service long-haul operations, a segment Capital A has also explored in the past through its widebody arm, AirAsia X. The Airbus development, paired with broader industry moves in aerospace and fleet modernisation, is seen by some investors as a potential reconfiguration moment for Malaysia's aviation landscape. The earlier 2022 agreement between MAG and Airbus included 20 confirmed A330neo orders with options for another 20, which the group is now considering exercising. MAG has also signalled interest in evaluating larger aircraft such as the Airbus A350, Boeing 787 and Boeing 777X. Capital A continues to focus on digital expansion and its MRO business through Asia Digital Engineering, but investor sentiment has remained cautious amid increased competition and slow financial clarity on the group's transformation. The counter has been consolidating just below the RM0.90 threshold in recent weeks, with aviation stocks broadly reacting to both global macro headwinds and shifting strategic alignments among key players. Related
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
AirAsia-Airbus aircraft deal supports Malaysia's aspiration to be Asia's leading aviation hub
PARIS: The signing of an agreement between AirAsia and Airbus for the purchase of A321XLR aircraft will further strengthen the airline's operational capabilities for short- and medium-haul routes, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Speaking after witnessing the signing ceremony here on Friday, Anwar said the acquisition will not only enable the airline to expand its network but also support Malaysia's aspiration to emerge as a leading aviation hub in Asia. AirAsia is buying US$12.25 billion (RM51.72 billion) worth of long-range Airbus 321XLR aircraft, with deliveries confirmed by 2028. The low-cost carrier inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus in Paris today for 50 A321XLRs with conversion rights for another 20 A321XLRs, the new fleet of which are targeted to serve Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe, among others. The prime minister also witnessed the MoU exchange between 3P Capital Advisers and Ardian, a leading private investment firm from France, for the exploration of investment opportunities in the private markets. The private sector initiative can give Malaysians a wider access to alternative investments, Anwar said. Meanwhile, during his meeting with Imerys, an industrial mineral processing company that has been operating in Malaysia for over 25 years, Anwar said the company expressed its commitment to expand operations and support the development of a high-value, environmentally-friendly manufacturing sector in the country. In addition, Anwar held a meeting with the management of Arkema, a global leader in specialty chemicals, which is evaluating potential new investments in Malaysia. He said the company can potentially create more high-skilled jobs, expedite technology transfer, and enhance Malaysia's position as a major bioeconomy hub in the Asian region. Also present were Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. Anwar is leading a Malaysian delegation to the French capital in conjunction with a two-day official visit to the country. – Bernama
