Kuala lumpur, January 11 (AseanAll)  — On January 10, 2025,Japanese Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru, who is visiting Malaysia, held a Japan-Malaysia summit meeting with Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia at the Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia, according to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Photo source:  Prime Minister's Office of Japan

At the outset, Anwar welcomed ISHIBA's visit to Malaysia and expressed his expectation for further strengthening of bilateral relations. 

Photo source:  Prime Minister's Office of Japan

In response, ISHIBA stated that he was pleased to visit Malaysia on his first bilateral visit as Prime Minister of Japan. Furthermore, ISHIBA stated that the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) is indispensable as the international society faces a complex crisis, and expressed his desire to have a wide-ranging discussion on regional and international issues as well as strengthening Japan-Malaysia relations. 

Anwar responded that he would work closely with Prime Minister ISHIBA to further deepen bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas.

Photo source:  Prime Minister's Office of Japan

With regard to bilateral relations, the two leaders concurred to deepen cooperation in the following four main areas.

In security area, the two leaders welcomed the rapid development of the strategic dialogues between the two countries, such as Foreign Vice-Ministerial consultations and strategic dialogue between foreign and defense authorities, as well as the start of bilateral exercises between Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy, and concurred to continue to enhance such cooperation.  ISHIBA affirmed that he would make steady progress on OSA (Official Security Assistance) such as the provision of equipment for warning and surveillance activities including rescue boats, and Anwar expressed his gratitude. 

The two leaders also welcomed to reach consensus in principle on a memorandum of cooperation between the Japan Coast Guard and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and shared the view to further promote cooperation in the area of maritime safety and to continue to collaborate between the relevant authorities in the area of cyber security.

In economic area, the two leaders concurred to cooperate in supply chains resilience in important sectors such as semiconductors and aircraft parts, and developing rare earth resources, taking into account Malaysia “Madani“ policy that Prime Minister Anwar is promoting, which emphasizes sustainability, innovation and prosperity.

The two leaders also confirmed the promotion of cooperation in the resource and infrastructure development to ensure energy security and decarbonization through various pathways.

In particular, the two leaders confirmed stable supply of LNG from Malaysia and expressed their intention to further promote collaboration in the areas of Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS), ammonia power generation and power grid, technical cooperation in ocean thermal energy conversion and biomass sector, and cooperation such as hydrogen and LNG. The two leaders concurred to further strengthen cooperation in the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) platform.

In disaster management area, ISHIBA expressed his hope to utilize Japan's knowledge and experience in disaster risk management to assist Malaysia in disaster prevention and mitigation for frequent and severe wind and flood disasters. The two leaders concurred to continue collaboration in the area of disaster prevention.

In human resources development area, ISHIBA stated that Japan will continue to cooperate through higher education institutions such as Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology and the branch campus of University of Tsukuba, and the two leaders confirmed that they support exchanges and cooperation among universities in both countries.

The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international situations, including the situation in the East and South China Sea, the Middle East and Myanmar, and confirmed that they would continue to work together to address these issues.

Photo source:  Prime Minister's Office of Japan

In particular, regarding the situation in the Middle East, ISHIBA expressed serious concern over the devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza, and explained that Japan provides assistance for Palestine. The two leaders concurred to support Palestinian development and promote collaboration, including cooperation for Palestine.

The two leaders affirmed the importance of maintaining and enhancing a free and open international order based on the rule of law to lead the world towards cooperation through realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), and confirmed that they continue to work together