ASHGABAT, June 19 — Malaysia and Turkmenistan have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations through a more structured, progressive and complementary partnership, guided by strategic interests and long-term benefits for the people of both nations, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said the commitment was reflected in the agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) exchanged by the two countries following his bilateral meeting with Turkmenian President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the Presidential Palace today.
Anwar said both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring all agreed areas of cooperation are implemented in a disciplined, transparent and effective manner.
“I pray that the strong friendship between Malaysia and Turkmenistan will continue to flourish, strengthened by deep trust and mutual respect, God willing,” he said at a joint Malaysia-Turkmenistan press conference.
Anwar said he and Berdimuhamedov subsequently led their respective delegations in bilateral talks, during which they held in-depth discussions on relations and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
“Our discussions covered a wide range of sectors, including energy, trade and investment, the halal industry, Islamic banking, education, research, science and technology, tourism, as well as air connectivity,” he said.
The prime minister said the exchange of key documents would serve as a catalyst for strengthening strategic cooperation between Malaysia and Turkmenistan across several priority areas.
Earlier, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of three MOUs and an agreement between Malaysia and Turkmenistan.
The documents included an Air Services Agreement and an MOU between Malaysia’s Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations under the Foreign Ministry and the Institute of International Relations under Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry.
Also exchanged were an MOU between Malaysia’s Transport Ministry and the State Service of Turkmenistan, and an MOU between the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan.
During the event, Anwar, who is also finance minister, and Berdimuhamedov signed a joint statement in conjunction with Anwar’s official visit to Turkmenistan.
Anwar was accompanied by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, and senior government officials.
The two-day visit, which started yesterday, is Anwar’s first official trip to Turkmenistan since becoming Malaysia’s 10th prime minister in November 2022.
The visit was undertaken at the invitation of Berdimuhamedov.
