MALAYSIA AND TIMOR-LESTE FORGE STRONGER TIES IN EDUCATION, DEFENCE

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Timor-Leste are expanding their partnership through enhanced cooperation in education, capacity building and defence to strengthen bilateral ties and promote regional stability.

In a joint statement issued here today, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Timor-Leste counterpart Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão emphasised the importance of capacity-building programmes and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as vital tools for career development and supporting economic growth at both the individual and community levels. 

Towards this end, Malaysia pledged to provide scholarships, customised courses and training under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, as part of its support for Timor-Leste's ASEAN membership aspirations.

The leaders also welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Aug 28, 2024 between Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) and the Human Capital Development Fund Timor-Leste (FDCH). 

“The MoU will facilitate the mobility of Timor-Leste government scholarship recipients to further their studies in Malaysia.

“To further strengthen the cooperation in the field of education and capacity-building, the leaders looked forward to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Higher Education in the near future,” according to the statement. 

The Timor-Leste Prime Minister arrived in Malaysia yesterday to begin a three-day official visit, his first since assuming office on July 1, 2023. 

Defence and security cooperation also featured prominently in discussions as both countries recognised the importance of joint initiatives such as under the Malaysian Defence Cooperation Programme (MDCP) and peacekeeping task forces. 

“Both countries agreed to strengthen existing collaboration and explore new areas of cooperation. Both leaders looked forward to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation in the near future for greater collaboration,” according to the statement. 

The leaders also agreed to actively engage in premier defence events, such as the Defence Services Asia Exhibition (DSA) and the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA), to foster collaboration in the defence industry, it said.

-- BERNAMA