Kuala Lumpur, October 28 (AseanAll) — At the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, paid an official visit to Malaysia on 28 October 2025 after attending the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from 26 to 28 October 2025.
This visit marks Prime Minister Albanese’s first official visit to Malaysia since assuming office on 21 May 2022. He was accompanied by senior government officials.
Malaysia and Australia elevated bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2021. This framework provides a platform for both leaders to explore new areas of cooperation under the CSP’s three pillars: economic prosperity, society and technology, and defence and regional security.
Anwar Ibrahim and Albanese co-chaired the 3rd Malaysia–Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting (ALM). Both Prime Ministers discussed ways to enhance trade and investment cooperation, collaboration in renewable energy and green technology, education and people-to-people linkages, defence and security partnership, as well as in halal cooperation and youth and sports.
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments, including ASEAN’s centrality, the situation in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific, and maritime cooperation.
Both leaders also witnessed the exchange of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Transnational Crime and Basic Education, followed by the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the establishment of the new Monash University campus in Kuala Lumpur.
Australia remains an important economic partner for Malaysia. In 2024, total bilateral trade amounted to RM82.98 billion (USD18.15 billion), with exports and imports valued at RM49.40 billion (USD10.82 billion) and RM33.58 billion (USD7.33 billion) respectively. From January to September 2025, total trade between the two countries was valued at RM58.01 billion (USD13.41 billion). As of June 2025, total cumulative Australian investment in Malaysia stood at RM6.12 billion (USD1.73 billion).
