SEPANG, Jan 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said that Indonesia has pledged to assist and cooperate with Malaysia in its Asean chairmanship this year.
This was conveyed by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during their closed-door meeting at a luncheon in Kuala Lumpur today.
“Prabowo’s official visit is scheduled for January 27, but he felt the need to come earlier because we are longtime friends, and we need to have a heart-to-heart discussion of issues of mutual interest.
“He also wants to collaborate and assist me in the Asean chairmanship,” he said during a press conference after sending off Prabowo at the Bunga Raya Complex of the KL International Airport after the latter concluded the one-day working visit to Malaysia.
Malaysia officially assumed the Asean chairmanship starting this month, with the theme of 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'.
Malaysia has also held the Asean Chairmanship in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
During the lunch meeting, both leaders also discussed bilateral relations, particularly to enhance trade relations, investment, border cooperation, and several emerging issues.
“Certainly, this meeting was more of an informal discussion. Both of us feel that more needs to be done to improve trade relations, investment, border cooperation, and to resolve some of the outstanding issues,” Anwar said.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that Prabowo’s visit reflects the special relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia, supported by strong cooperation in various fields including economy, socio-culture, defence, and security.
In 2023, Indonesia was Malaysia's seventh-largest trading partner globally and the third-largest among Asean member countries, with a total trade value of RM111.21 billion.
From January to October last year, bilateral trade reached RM95.50 billion, compared to RM94.37 billion during the same period in 2023.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, the Prime Minister said that during the lunch meeting, he and Prabowo also discussed the issues concerning the recruitment of Indonesian workers, coordination of fishermen in disputed areas of the Strait of Melaka, socio-culture, defence, and security.
The brief yet meaningful meeting was fully utilised to further strengthen the close relationship that has existed between the two nations.
“InsyaAllah, I believe, the synergy from this meeting will be used to explore new opportunities for the benefit of a better future for both countries,” he said.
— Bernama
