Latest news with #state visit
CNA
4 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Russia is Malaysia's ‘trusted and important partner', King Sultan Ibrahim tells Putin in landmark visit
JOHOR BAHRU: Malaysia regards Russia as a 'trusted and important' partner and is willing to foster closer relations together, King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar told President Vladimir Putin during his state visit to Moscow on Wednesday (Aug 6). The king's trip from Aug 5 to Aug 10 at Putin's invitation is the first state visit by a Malaysian head of state to Russia since both countries established diplomatic ties in 1967. 'His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim … proclaimed that this state visit to the Russian Federation further strengthens relations and cooperation between the two countries. Malaysia regards Russia as a trusted and important partner,' said a post published on the king's Facebook page. It also quoted Sultan Ibrahim as telling Putin during his introductory remarks at the Kremlin that the visit reflects his 'sincere desire' to deepen relations and cooperation. 'As the Russian proverb says, 'friendship is more valuable than money'. It is in this spirit of friendship that I believe we will continue to shape the trajectory of the relationship between our two countries for the benefit of all our people,' the monarch was quoted as saying. Sultan Ibrahim also noted that Malaysia 'was among the earliest ASEAN countries' to establish relations with Russia, the post added, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In his speech during the welcoming ceremony for Sultan Ibrahim, Putin said that Russia and Malaysia have built a strong political dialogue, maintained close governmental interaction, and fostered ongoing ties between their parliamentarians over the last six decades. He further noted that bilateral trade between the two nations grew by over 40 per cent in the first five months of 2025. 'We cooperate on various international platforms - above all, of course, the United Nations. But it is well known that promoting dialogue with the ASEAN, which Malaysia chairs this year, remains one of Russia's key foreign policy priorities in Asia,' said Putin in his speech posted in English on the Kremlin website. He added that Russia is also pleased to support Malaysia's bid to become a partner state in the BRICS grouping, which he said is a 'landmark step that will benefit both our bilateral relations'. According to local Malaysian media, Sultan Ibrahim arrived at the Kremlin on Wednesday and was greeted by Putin in the ornate St. George's Hall. Following the welcoming ceremony, both leaders proceeded to the Green Room for formal discussions, accompanied by their respective delegations. The Malaysian delegation included Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Amran Mohamad Zin and Malaysia's Ambassador to Russia Cheong Loon Lai. The Russian delegation, meanwhile, featured senior officials such as Presidential Aide for International Affairs Yury Ushakov, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. After the meeting, Sultan Ibrahim and Putin exchanged commemorative gifts in St. Andrew's Hall and attended a state banquet hosted by the Russian president in the Granovitaya Chamber, one of Moscow's oldest preserved secular buildings dating back to the 15th century. Earlier in the day, Sultan Ibrahim paid his respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexander Garden, near the Kremlin Wall. After Moscow, Sultan Ibrahim will travel to Kazan in Tatarstan, one of Russia's autonomous republics with a Muslim-majority population. While there, he will meet with local leaders and tour a helicopter manufacturing and assembly facility. As the current chair of ASEAN, Malaysia will also play a major role in enhancing strategic cooperation, especially in the context of Russia's status as an ASEAN dialogue partner since 1996, the palace added. The Malaysian monarch's historic visit to Russia comes on the heels of recent exchanges between both countries, including visits and overtures by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This was Sultan Ibrahim's fourth state visit, after Singapore, China and Brunei. Meanwhile, Anwar has made two visits to Russia over the last two years, with his most recent trip taking place in May. Beyond looking to expand bilateral cooperation, he has also been pushing to strengthen ties between Russia and ASEAN. Anwar has invited Putin to attend the ASEAN summit in October, but it's unclear if the Russian leader will turn up given his arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Malaysia is not a signatory to the ICC.
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Putin Hosts Malaysia's King in First State Visit Since 1967
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar at the Kremlin on Wednesday, as the two nations look to shore up ties amid shifting global alliances. It's the first state visit of a monarch from Malaysia to Russia since diplomatic relations were established with the Soviet Union in 1967.
Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
EAM Jaishankar meets Philippine President Marcos
New Delhi: India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met with the Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in the national capital, as he marked the beginning of his five-day state visit to the country aimed at deepening bilateral ties between India and the Philippines. In a post on X, the EAM expressed his delight over the President's visit, noting his confidence in deepening the bilateral partnership following his dialogue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. Philippine President Marcos arrived in the national capital for his five-day state visit to India, aimed at further strengthening the India-Philippines relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs stated. This is the first visit by the President of the Southeast Asian country to India since he assumed office back in 2022, marking a significant milestone, as his visit aligns with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. According to a post on X by the MEA, Marcos was welcomed with a warm reception by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita. "Mabuhay, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.! President Bongbong Marcos has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India. Received by MoS Pabitra Margherita and accorded a warm welcome. India & the Philippines are celebrating 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties. This visit will lead to further strengthening of India-Philippines relations," the MEA stated on X. He was accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and a high-level delegation, including several Ministers from his Cabinet. According to a statement by the MEA, during his visit, President Marcos will be holding talks with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other officials. On August 5, he will lay a wreath at Rajghat, and following that, he will hold talks with PM Modi at the Hyderabad House. Exchange of Memoranda of Understanding and Press Statements will take place thereafter. The Philippine President will then meet Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda and thereafter President Droupadi Murmu. He will then travel to Bengaluru and meet Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot. His visit came following an invitation by PM Modi, an MEA statement stated on Thursday.
Daily Mail
27-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
How Trump's love of pomp and pageantry and a long-awaited meeting with the King could sweeten UK trade deal... as major price hikes for cars and beef loom
Donald Trump has been brandishing his brass knuckle tactics by posting country-by-country tariff hikes online to squeeze counterparts into submission – but in the case of the UK, his fixation on the royal family is playing to his host country's benefit. This week's trip to Scotland is just a prelude to Trump's September official state visit where he will meet King Charles. The president is set to hammer out details of a huge trade deal with the UK during talks in between rounds of golf at his Scottish course Monday – with prices for cars, digital clicks, and U.S.-raised chicken and beef all on the line. 'Trump wants a successful state visit in September with no problems, and so he is not going to hit the UK hard on anything until after that,' one plugged-in source who works with the White House told the Daily Mail. This fall, Trump is seeking a royal welcome with pomp and pageantry that will top his first term visit with Queen Elizabeth. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among the first world leaders to successfully woo Trump by presenting him with a letter from the King at the White House. Now, the two are set to meet at Trump's Turnberry golf course, with aides saying leader-to-leader trade talks with be critical. 'This is a pretty broad framework still, so it would be hashing out the more specifics there' at the 'leader-to-leader' level, a White House official told the Daily Mail. The products at stake run the gamut of the industrial and agricultural economies of the two nations. Trump went out of his way to applaud Starmer as he began his trip to Scotland – signaling he is going for the soft sell, at least publicly. 'He's a good man. He got a trade deal done,' Trump said. Instead of focusing on the fine points, he said the two would be celebrating the agreement, which sets a 10 percent baseline tariff for imports of UK products. 'It's a great deal for both,' he added. That came as he put the chance of reaching a trade deal with the European Union only at 'fifty-fifty,' in advance of a planned meeting with EU Commission Chair Ursula von der Leyen, amid reports that it could end with the EU accepting a 15 percent U.S. 'baselline' tariff. One question facing the US side is how much relief to grant Britain on steel and aluminum tariffs, a White House official told the Daily Mail. Trump imposed a 50 so-called Section 232 tariff on steel and aluminum worldwide last month, with a 25 hit on the UK amid trade talks. The U.S. exempted British jet engines from special Section 232 tariffs. But there is still discussion on British pharmaceutical imports 'where we could have some willingness to give them special consideration on that,' said the official. That trade authority allows Trump to impose tariffs on national security grounds. One high-impact clash is the UK's Digital Services Tax, which brought in more than $1B last year and rising. American negotiators have long compared the tax to a tariff on US tech giants. The so-called 'Google tax' hits top U.S. tech companies that provide a platform for online purchasing. Trump managed to press Canada to nix its Digital Services late last month after threatening to terminate 'all discussions on trade with Canada.' 'Trump forced Canada to get of their digital services tax, and the UK and the EU are next,' said the insider. Trump wants the UK to get rid of its digital services tax – a matter that wasn't settled by the May deal Trump and Starmer met at the G7 summit in Canada in June and again at NATO. Now, they will meet on Trump's turf at his Turnberry course The details are what matter in any trade negotiation, and the one between the U.S. and Britain is no different, despite the longstanding 'special relationship.' For example, the May 8 deal set a 100,000 quota for UK auto imports like Jaguars, Land Rovers and Mini Coopers that get a 10 percent tariff rather than the larger 25 percent one. A UK 10 percent tariff on U.S. cars remains in effect. But the deal announced an unspecificed 'accompanying arrangement for attendant auto parts' for such autos. 'That's something that may need to be hashed out,' said the White House official. The two countries agreed to work 'constructively' on enhancing market access for agricultural products. That means the U.S. poultry that European and British trading partners sometimes refer to derisively as 'chlorinated chicken' will find a new market. But the text announced by Trump merely states that products 'must comply with the importing country's sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards and other mutually agreed standards.' The various types are spelled out in a Harmonized Tariff Schedule published by the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Categories of chicken alone include chicken thighs, frozen chicken, ground chicken, chicken breast, chicken meal, and even chicken paste. 'They agreed to take their chicken, but what exactly is that? Are they taking full chickens, or taking live chickens?' asked the official. 'Are they taking frozen chicken meat? Are they taking prepared chicken meals with air-tight containers?' asked the official. Amid the compex multi-faceted negotiations, there is something else that Trump wants. The meeting with Starmer takes place at Turnberry, a celebrated course that has not hosted the British Open since Trump bought it. Trump and the Trump Organization – Trump has maintained his business empire as president – have long wanted to land the tour. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who came along for Trump's first round of golf in Scotland Saturday, said back in Washington that Trump and Starmer will meet 'to refine the historic U.S.-U.K. trade deal' announced in May. She touted recent trade deals with Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and said of Trump: 'He came in as the closer in all three of those.' As of mid-week Trump had fired off 25 trade letters, with a new baseline emerging of a 15 percent baseline tariff on products coming into the U.S. The risks to a range of sectors are real – as UK tariffs on American spirits in the land where fine Scotch was born have revealed. Between 1997 and 2018, when there weren't any tariffs on distilled spirits between the two countries, bilateral trade spiked 212 percent – hitting $1.4 billion, according to figures the Distilled Spirits Council provided to the Daily Mail. But 'devastating' tariffs on Single Malt Scotch and American Whiskey led to a 35 percent decrease in trade. A UK 25 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. Whiskeys in 2018 and 2021 caused a 41 percent drop in exports there. When it came off, it shot back up to $137 million in 2024. Chris Swonger, CEO of the Council is meeting his Scotch Whisky Association counterpart this weekend to urge bringing tariffs down to zero.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump gives his verdict on ‘sloppy' Brexit
Donald Trump stated that Britain 's implementation of Brexit has been "sloppy" but is now "getting straightened out". Trump praised Sir Keir Starmer, noting he made a "good trade deal" with the US despite being a "liberal". Trump is scheduled for a second state visit to the UK from 17 to 19 September, where he will be hosted at Windsor Castle and meet King Charles and Sir Keir. He expressed no disappointment about not addressing MPs and peers during his visit, stating he just wants "a good time" and to "respect King Charles". Trump voiced frustration with Vladimir Putin over stalled efforts to secure a peace deal in Ukraine, threatening "very severe tariffs" on Russia if an agreement is not reached within 50 days.
