British envoy calls for deeper UK-Malaysia cooperation
Speaking at a reception celebrating the 77th birthday of King Charles III, British High Commissioner Ajay Sharma said the UK was committed to strengthening cooperation with Malaysia across various sectors, building on centuries of shared history and values.
"Our two Prime Ministers share an ambitious vision and have agreed to elevate the relationship between the UK and Malaysia to a strategic partnership, in particular in the areas of education, energy, defence and trade."
"The list of our bilateral co-operation is endless. And most importantly, we shouldn't take the relationship between our two countries for granted. We need to keep working at delivering for our people through this relationship," he said.
Sharma also expressed his hope for more shared success in the UK-Malaysia relations.
In attendance on behalf of the government of Malaysia was Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
This year's celebrations carried the theme Great British Fantasia, inspired by King Charles' interest in literature.
Sharma said that the monarch had once written a children's book titled The Old Man of Lochnagar, which focused on the environment and the beauty of nature.
He said the theme also drew from iconic British literary works such as Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, and The Chronicles of Narnia — many of which feature kings and queens.
"In the UK, royalty is not just the stuff of fiction but an essential part of our national identity. The same is true in Malaysia. This royal link is something we have shared for centuries. It binds our countries and peoples in a unique way," he said.
Sharma also said education remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, with over 150,000 Malaysians having studied in the UK in the last 20 years and five British university campuses operating in Malaysia.
He also pointed to significant joint efforts in climate action and environmental protection, a cause close to the heart of King Charles, saying the two countries were driving global action to preserve forests and biodiversity while promoting sustainable trade.
"Just like kings and queens live outside of books in the real world, we too live in a magical world of nature and biodiversity. We must do everything we can to preserve this for the sake of the planet and future generations," he said.
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