(AseanAll) — Malaysia Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain from 18 to 20 February 2025, at the invitation of Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain. This visit marks the Prime Minister’s first official trip to Bahrain, reflecting Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
During the visit, Anwar Ibrahim was received in an Official Welcoming Ceremony and followed by an audience with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Photo source:Bahrain News Agency
Both leaders discussed the current state of Malaysia-Bahrain relations and explore opportunities to deepen cooperation in key sectors of mutual interest, including trade and investment, defence, food security, Islamic banking, the halal industry, connectivity, and tourism. They also exchanged views on the latest situation pertaining to regional and international developments.
Photo source:Bahrain News Agency
Anwar Ibrahim also had an audience with Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain to further strengthen the warm and long-standing relations between the two countries.
Photo source:Bahrain News Agency
Additionally, the Prime Minister met with Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy of Bahrain, to explore avenues for enhancing economic collaboration. Discussions focused on expanding trade and investment opportunities for mutual benefit.
On the sidelines of the visit, the Prime Minister delivered a speech at the main session of the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference (IIDC), held under the patronage of the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders. The speech focused on the importance of Islamic unity in addressing contemporary global challenges.
Photo source:Bahrain News Agency
As ASEAN Chair for 2025, the Prime Minister also used this visit to advocate for stronger regional cooperation, particularly in preparation for the Second ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, which will be hosted in Kuala Lumpur this year.
In 2024, Bahrain was Malaysia's 9th largest trading partner in the West Asian region, with total trade amounting to RM1.19 billion (USD0.26 billion). In 2023, Malaysia was Bahrain’s third largest trading partner among ASEAN Member States and ranked 18th globally.
