Anwar's Moscow visit strengthens strategic ties and future trade prospects

Borneo Post

19-05-2025

Anwar meeting the Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin in Moscow on May 14. – Bernama Photo
KUALA LUMPUR (May 19): In a time of increasing global uncertainty, the ability of a nation to maintain strategic neutrality while proactively forging meaningful international partnerships has become not only a strength but a necessity.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent official visit to Moscow, including
engagements in the Republic of Tatarstan, is emblematic of Malaysia's matured and far-sighted foreign policy.
It sends a clear message that Malaysia is actively pushing for opportunities and is no longer
merely waiting.
The visit marked a shift in how Malaysia positions itself in a post-pandemic world shaped by
fractured supply chains, energy insecurity, and shifting geopolitical alliances.
As Malaysia continues to uphold its principle of non-alignment, its strategic outreach to Russia demonstrates a confident pivot towards diversified cooperation.
The trip created new spaces for bilateral dialogue, particularly in high-value sectors such as
technology, education, aerospace, digital economy, food security, and the halal industry.
The Kremlin reception for Anwar reflected a strong mutual interest in developing a pragmatic relationship grounded in economic realism and geopolitical respect.
For Malaysia, this relationship offers not just trade possibilities, but access to a complementary industrial base especially in high-tech manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), and agritech.
For Russia, the partnership opens doors to Southeast Asia and the broader Muslim world, leveraging Malaysia's global halal certification credibility and ASEAN's rising strategic
relevance.
With bilateral trade already valued at RM11.46 billion, Russia has become Malaysia's ninth-largest trading partner in Europe.
Nivakan Sritharan
However, as Nivakan Sritharan, lecturer from the Faculty of Business, Design and Arts of Swinburne University, Sarawak Campus, pointed out: 'The significance of this visit lies not in
past figures, but in the forward trajectory it sets.'
He explained that the meetings in Tatarstan, which is home to over 25 million Muslims and more than 150 halal-certified manufacturers, signaled the beginning of an ambitious halal supply chain collaboration.
'Malaysia's recognised leadership in halal certification can help Russian producers meet
international standards, enabling co-branded exports to Muslim-majority markets across Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
'This not only fuels trade but strengthens faith-based economic diplomacy and positions Malaysia as a regional halal logistics and certification hub.'
This halal partnership carries broader cultural and geopolitical implications.
By promoting shared Islamic values and economic empowerment, Malaysia is subtly redefining diplomacy through soft power.
Nivakan envisions a 'Malaysia-Russia-Africa triangular initiative, where halal products, agri-innovation, and logistics form the backbone of mutual cooperation,' underscoring
Malaysia's vision for economic development that transcends borders and ideology.
Equally significant is the synergy between Russia's technological prowess and Malaysia's
innovation goals.
Russia's established capabilities in aerospace, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity provide fertile ground for joint research and development initiatives.
'These are not abstract ideas, they are pragmatic solutions to shared challenges like food
security, climate adaptation, and industrial digitisation,' Dr Nivakan said.
He further highlighted education as another promising area, noting: 'With a renewed focus on TVET (technical and vocational education and training) and STI (science, technology and innovation) cooperation, Malaysia and Russia are preparing to develop future-ready human
capital.'
This includes university exchanges, technical collaboration, and the creation of joint innovation councils to support Malaysia's Industry 4.0 agenda and foster cross-border entrepreneurial ecosystems.
From an economic resilience standpoint, Malaysia's deepening ties with Russia are both timely and strategic.
Dzul Hadzwan Husaini
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Faculty of Economics and Business' economics lecturer, Dzul Hadzwan Husaini, said: 'Russia presents a rare opportunity to access a
high-technology ecosystem that rivals Western counterparts.'
This includes fields such as medical sciences, robotics, materials engineering, and digital health sectors which are critical for Malaysia's long-term industrial transformation.
More importantly, he said: 'Russia's status as a top exporter of critical minerals positions it as a valuable partner in Malaysia's green energy transition, particularly under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).'
Agriculture and food security also emerged as central themes during the prime minister's visit.
Dzul noted that Russia's abundance of arable land and role as a major producer of nitrogen fertilisers, seed oils, and veterinary pharmaceuticals offer complementary strengths to Malaysia's agri-tech ambitions.
'By leveraging Russian resources and combining them with Malaysia's halal processing
expertise and smart farming technologies, both nations stand to benefit. This partnership could help stabilise food prices, boost productivity, and promote climate-resilient agriculture in underserved markets.'
Critically, all of this progress is being achieved without compromising Malaysia's neutral foreign policy.
Dzul emphasized: 'Deepening Malaysia-Russia relations does not imply a deviation from
non-alignment, but rather a strategic expansion of partnerships that enhance economic security and reduce dependence on traditional economic giants like the US and China.'
He stressed that Malaysia's approach is grounded in constructive engagement.
'It avoids the zero-sum game of global power blocs and instead favours a multilateral,
interest-based diplomacy that serves national development goals.'
This stance is especially relevant as Malaysia prepares to take over the ASEAN chairmanship in 2025.
Jerome Kueh
, Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics and Business at Unimas,
elaborated on the broader geopolitical significance: 'The Moscow engagement positions Malaysia as a credible intermediary between East and West, capable of steering economic dialogue, digital transformation, and green growth, all while upholding regional stability.'
This growing credibility on the global stage is no accident. It reflects deliberate policy choices, institutional reforms, and visionary leadership.
Under Anwar, Malaysia is demonstrating a blend of pragmatism and principle in its foreign engagements.
The Moscow visit fits into a broader strategy of positioning Malaysia as a bridge between worlds: between developed and emerging economies, between Islamic markets and secular
industries, and between traditional manufacturing and future technologies.
Initiatives such as the proposed Malaysia-Russia Innovation Council, the Halal Excellence
Certification Corridor, and alternative trade mechanisms (including digital currencies or barter systems) to bypass sanctions are examples of the imaginative, real-world problem-solving Malaysia is advocating internationally.
These tools, as experts note, 'navigate a world where globalisation is no longer linear and
where smart partnerships trump ideological loyalty.'
Perhaps the most understated but impactful dimension of the Moscow visit lies in its long-term vision.
Kueh emphasized: 'This visit is not about quick wins or short-term publicity.
'It is about building resilient economic linkages that future generations can rely on. It is about
empowering SMEs to venture beyond ASEAN borders, preparing Malaysian youth to co-create technologies with foreign peers, and ensuring Malaysia has a say in shaping emerging global norms, especially in digital, food, and energy domains.'
Anwar's visit to Moscow must be seen in the broader context of Malaysia's coming of age as a confident, capable middle power.
A country no longer content with reactive diplomacy, Malaysia is asserting itself as a leader of balanced engagement, navigating global complexities with wisdom, clarity, and foresight.
As the world continues to fracture along ideological, economic, and technological lines, Malaysia's approach offers a refreshing reminder that partnerships can still be built on trust,
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