ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Malaysia Thursday resolved to strengthen the bilateral economic cooperation, enhance trade, remove barriers in key sectors, provide a level playing field and address trade imbalance. The understanding to this regard was reached during the delegation level talks between the two countries here.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Malaysian counterpart Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim led their respective sides, the PM media wing said. Both sides agreed to an early Joint Review Committee meeting for a comprehensive evaluation of the Malaysia-Pakistan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the view to further strengthening the bilateral economic partnership.
The Malaysia-Pakistan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed on November 8, 2007 in Kuala Lumpur.
The two prime ministers noted the historic and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Malaysia and emphasized the importance of regular high-level exchanges and strategic dialogue and strengthening of bilateral institutional mechanisms. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in processing of Halal products.
The Pakistan side offered to increase the export of Halal meat to Malaysia to meet their demand. Shehbaz gave the proposal for increasing the export of Halal meat from Pakistan to Malaysia to 200 million dollars per annum.
The two sides further reaffirmed their strategic partnership and the importance of bilateral defence exchanges, rooted in the MoU on Defence Cooperation signed on First August 1997.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Malaysia’s decision to send a high-level delegation to participate in IDEAS 2024. Both the sides agreed on the need to enhance educational linkages and cooperation between the institutes of higher learning and technical and vocational training. They recognized the importance of tourism industry and youth exchanges in promoting people-to-people contacts, sustainable socio-economic growth and in fostering mutual understanding between Pakistan and Malaysia.
They welcomed increase in tourism between the two countries and agreed to expand aviation cooperation and enhance bilateral business-to-business exchanges. The two sides also exchanged views on important regional and global developments, including the situation in Palestine and the Middle East.
The two prime ministers witnessed the exchange of signed Memorandums of Understanding and a Letter of Cooperation. This included an MoU between the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and Malaysia External Trade Development Cooperation on trade cooperation, and MoU for cooperation in Halal trade between Pakistan-Malaysia Business Council of Pakistan and Malaysia-Pakistan Business Council of Malaysia.
A Letter of Cooperation between Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission was also signed. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also hosted a luncheon in the honour of the Malaysian prime minister and accompanying delegation.
Later, the two prime ministers addressed a joint press conference here.
Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim appreciated and supported Pakistan’s stance on Gaza and Palestine saying Malaysia was also committed to supporting the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir and this issue should be resolved amicably.
Shehbaz appreciated Malaysia’s stand on Gaza and the oppressed people of Palestine, saying both also called for immediate ceasefire, as thousands of men, women and children had been killed in the Israeli forces genocidal campaign. He said they had also discussed the Kashmir dispute and noted that it was a matter of grave concern for a peaceful world. He said the innocent people of Kashmir were struggling for their basic right to self-determination and they were being deprived of their right even after giving numerous sacrifices.
Shehbaz said Pakistan and Malaysia had expressed the resolve to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse fields, including economy, trade, investment, commerce, agriculture, tourism, education and defence. He said a whole gamut of cooperation was discussed during the meeting.
“We covered trade, investment opportunities, strategic and defence cooperation, tourism, agriculture, semiconductor, green energy, skilled labour and youth empowerment,” he said.
The prime minister said thousands of Pakistani students were getting high quality education in Malaysia, which was commendable. He expressed confidence that the Malaysian students will also be welcomed to study in the Pakistani institutions.
In his remarks, the Malaysian prime minister said a trade office will be opened in Karachi next month to enhance bilateral trade, including the import of Halal meat and rice from Pakistan.
On the issue of skilled labour, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim said their focus was on professionals in the field of information technology, digital and artificial intelligence. He said Malaysia was regarded as the hub of semiconductor industry and “we should collaborate in this field too”.
He said they also discussed the special economic zones, and the issue of trade, investment, military and defence procurement. Malaysia looks forward to increasing the number of flights to Pakistan as well as to welcome Pakistani tourists, he said.
He lauded the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the philosophy of Allama Dr. Muhammad Iqbal.
The visiting Malaysian prime minister also called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chairman Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Senator Sherry Rehman and senior government officials also attended the meeting. Both countries reiterated their commitment to further enhancing bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, economy, banking sector, food technology and agriculture. The two sides also agreed to cooperate on issues of bilateral importance.
Welcoming the Malaysian prime minister, President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Malaysia and was committed to further enhancing bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. He said the visit of the Malaysian prime minister would further boost bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
He expressed concern over the current situation in Gaza and called on the international community to take measures to prevent Israel from committing genocide and atrocities against the Palestinian people. The Malaysian premier apprised the president that he held a very good discussion with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Later, during a special investiture ceremony, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the award of Nishan-e-Pakistan upon Anwar Ibrahim in recognition of his support for Islamic causes and for being a great friend of Pakistan. During the ceremony, it was highlighted that the Malaysian prime minister was an avid reader of Allama Iqbal and acknowledged that his work had been a source of inspiration for him.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been a prominent advocate of humanitarian causes and Islamic values throughout his political career. His leadership is marked by a profound commitment to promoting social justice and addressing global issues affecting the Islamic world. He has also been a voice for the causes of self-determination movements and has particularly stood against oppression across the world. He continues to work tirelessly to counter Islamophobia striving to create interfaith harmony by fostering understanding and respect between different cultures and religions.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers, services chiefs, diplomats, and senior government officials. The president also hosted a state dinner in honour of the visiting Malaysian prime minister and his delegation.