King leads historic chapter
PM: Russia visit reaffirms monarchy's diplomatic role
KUALA LUMPUR: The state visit to Russia by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, marks a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two nations.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the visit, which takes place from today until Aug 10 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is expected to enhance strategic cooperation across key sectors.
These include bilateral trade, investment, higher education, technology and innovation, as well as people-to-people ties.
'Malaysia has the potential to attract new investments and advanced technologies from Russia, particularly in the fields of energy, aerospace, defence and smart agriculture.
'(All of this is) in line with the Madani Economy framework that emphasises competitiveness, sustainability and shared prosperity,' Anwar said in a Facebook post yesterday, Bernama reported.
More significantly, he noted that the visit reaffirms the role of the Malaysian monarchy as a respected pillar of national diplomacy, enhancing Malaysia's image as a neutral, open and progressive nation on the global stage.
Anwar also described the visit as a historic milestone, with Sultan Ibrahim becoming the first Malaysian Head of State to set foot in Russia for a state visit since diplomatic relations were established in 1967.
'This reflects His Majesty's role as a symbol of national unity and a strategic contributor to strengthening Malaysia's international relations,' he added.
Earlier today, Anwar accompanied Sultan Ibrahim at the royal send-off ceremony at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Subang.
Russia is Malaysia's ninth-largest trading partner among European nations and ranks 28th globally, with bilateral trade valued at RM11.46bil (US$2.48bil) in 2024.
From January to June, total trade between the two countries amounted to RM4.13bil (US$945.7mil).
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