MALAYSIA, SOUTH KOREA ELEVATE RELATIONS TO STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

By Mohd Shukri Ishak

SEOUL, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and South Korea have elevated their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, marking a significant milestone in their decades-long cooperation.

The announcement was made during a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Monday.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration in four key areas: peace and security, economic development, culture and education, and regional and global cooperation.

“This Strategic Partnership signifies the shared determination of Malaysia and South Korea to expand cooperation to new horizons in promoting freedom, peace, and prosperity while addressing pressing global challenges,” said the statement.

The two leaders agreed to deepen defence and security ties, including cooperation in the defence industry and efforts to tackle non-traditional security issues such as cybercrime and drug trafficking. They also acknowledged the importance of regular high-level exchanges to strengthen mutual trust and strategic relations.

On the economic front, both sides committed to accelerating Free Trade Agreement negotiations to conclude them by 2025.

They also pledged to strengthen collaboration in emerging sectors such as the halal economy, digital technologies, and the green agenda.

The leaders highlighted the legacy of Malaysia’s Look East Policy, which has bolstered cultural and educational exchanges over the past 40 years.

They intended to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding to deepen bilateral tourism cooperation.

Yoon also reiterated South Korea’s support for Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, underscoring the importance of regional and global collaboration to address shared challenges.

The Joint Statement further condemned the use of ballistic missile technology by North Korea and called for strengthened international efforts to address humanitarian crises, including the situation in Gaza.

“The Strategic Partnership reflects our shared commitment to addressing regional and global issues through collaboration within ASEAN and other multilateral platforms,” the statement added.

Anwar arrived here on Sunday for a three-day official visit to South Korea to further strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and South Korea. 

Both countries will be celebrating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025.

-- BERNAMA