By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young
President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is on an official visit to South Korea, and exchanged in-depth views on ways to promote bilateral cooperation and the regional and international situation on Nov. 25.
The two leaders adopted a Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between Korea and Malaysia, which assessed the remarkable growth of bilateral relations over the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1960 and outlined a vision for deepening and expanding cooperation between the two countries.
The two leaders also officially declared the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries ahead of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.
The President expressed his hope to expand bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the field of defense and security based on the MOU on Defense Cooperation between Korea and Malaysia signed in 2022, and requested Prime Minister Anwar's interest and support for the continuation of Korean companies' participation in defense projects in Malaysia, following the export of the FA-50 light attack aircraft to Malaysia last year.
In response, Prime Minister Anwar emphasized that Malaysia is a reliable security partner of the Republic of Korea and looks forward to working closely with Korea in the field of defense and joint exercises.
The President and PM Anwar welcomed the resumption of FTA negotiations between the two countries this year, and agreed to push for the speedy conclusion of a comprehensive FTA covering new industries such as digital and bio. They also agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in infrastructure and the supply chain of critical minerals.
The two leaders agreed that achieving carbon neutrality and transitioning to a green economy is crucial to promote sustainable development.
The President called for accelerating bilateral cooperation on greenhouse gas reduction based on the signing of the MOU on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and the MOU on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Anwar said that Korea and Malaysia are ideal partners, especially in the field of clean hydrogen, and hoped to develop mutually beneficial cooperation in this area.
The two leaders also agreed to further promote educational cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries through the MOU on Higher Education Cooperation signed on the occasion of the summit.
In particular, Anwar said he hoped that Korea would provide education and training programs that combine AI and digital fields in order to continue the “Look East” policy of learning from Korea's growth and success. He also hoped that tourism exchanges would be increased as K-Culture has a significant influence among Malaysians.
The two leaders also expressed concern over the illegal military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, which threatens the security of the Korean Peninsula, the India-Pacific region, and the world.
Anwar condemned the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs and provocative acts, which are in gross violation of international law, including UN Security Council resolutions, and expressed his support for the Korean government's bold initiatives and the August 15 Unification Declaration.
The two leaders agreed to continue to work closely together to ensure that next year's APEC Leaders' Meeting in Korea and ASEAN Leaders' Meeting in Malaysia will yield fruitful outcomes.
