TOKYO, June 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s official visit to Japan is expected to provide strategic opportunities for Malaysia to expand cooperation in the fields of the economy, science and technology, as well as capacity building.
These areas remain key national priorities as Malaysia seeks to strengthen its competitiveness on the global stage, said Malaysia’s Ambassador to Japan Datuk Shahril Effendi Abd Ghany.
Anwar’s visit from June 8 to June 10 includes witnessing the signing of four Memoranda of Cooperation and two Letters of Intent covering defence and regional security, healthcare, energy transition, environmental cooperation and higher education collaboration between Malaysia and Japan.
“Malaysia and Japan are also expected to finalise a Joint Statement to translate the commitment of both countries’ leadership into elevating bilateral cooperation to a higher level, in line with the upgrading of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” he told the Malaysian media at the embassy today.
The visit will be Anwar’s first official visit to Japan since assuming office as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister in November 2022, having previously undertaken two working visits to attend the Commemorative Summit marking the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in 2023 and the Nikkei International Conference in 2024.
The visit, at the invitation of the Japanese government, will begin with an official welcoming ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister of Japan, followed by a bilateral meeting between the delegations of both countries, to be led by Anwar and his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, he said.
Shahril added that Anwar is also scheduled to attend and deliver a keynote address at the 31st Nikkei Forum, themed 'Working Together for a More Resilient and Prosperous Asia', on Wednesday (June 10).
The forum will bring together government leaders, corporate executives, policymakers, and experts from around the world to discuss geopolitical developments and the future direction of economic growth in Asia.
The Prime Minister’s keynote address, titled 'Navigating Strategic Uncertainty', is expected to highlight Malaysia’s role in navigating an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, including addressing challenges arising from global uncertainty and exploring strategic opportunities that could be leveraged to promote Asia’s prosperity for mutual benefit.
“His keynote address will underscore Malaysia’s influence on the international stage, where it continues to play an active role in regional and global issues. At the same time, it will reinforce the country’s profile and image as a progressive and resilient nation committed to regional and global cooperation,” he said.
Anwar is also scheduled to visit the University of Tokyo, where he will deliver a special lecture titled 'Humanity in a Human-Machine Civilisation'. The lecture will focus on the importance of balancing human values with economic development, particularly at a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly.
The prime minister will also participate in a roundtable session with 29 selected Japanese business leaders and industry captains and hold meetings with Japanese companies to showcase Malaysia’s strengths as an investment destination and trading partner and to attract high-quality investments from Japan.
As part of the one-on-one meetings, Anwar will meet representatives from six Japanese companies. These include Shizen Energy, which is involved in renewable energy development, particularly solar and wind power, as well as sustainable energy transition solutions; Denso Corporation, which specialises in automotive technology, including vehicle components, electrification, automation and smart mobility; and ENEOS Holdings, which operates in the energy sector, covering petroleum, gas, hydrogen, chemicals, and sustainable energy solutions.
He will also meet Marubeni Corporation, which has interests in energy, infrastructure, food, agriculture and industrial development; IBM, which focuses on information technology, including AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity and digital transformation; and Mitsubishi Corporation, which is involved in the energy, industrial, automotive, technology and infrastructure sectors.
During the three-day visit, which ends on Wednesday (June 10), Anwar will be accompanied by Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Steven Sim, as well as senior government officials.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will no longer be part of the delegation.
“The foreign minister has had to cancel his presence at the last minute,” said the ambassador.
