President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim have agreed to initiate a new phase of innovative development in bilateral relations, strengthening economic, trade, and cultural ties.
The high-level talks took place at the Perdana Putra government complex in Kuala Lumpur, with both leaders first meeting in a narrow format before engaging in discussions with official delegations. President Mirziyoyev expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and congratulated Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the success of Malaysia’s "Madani" state strategy.
The two leaders noted that the historic visit of the Malaysian Prime Minister to Uzbekistan in May 2023 provided fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation. Political dialogue and inter-parliamentary relations have since expanded, while mutual trade, joint ventures, and air connectivity between the two nations continue to grow.
Economic and trade cooperation was a central focus of the discussions. Both sides agreed to:
- Develop an Agreement on Preferential Trade to facilitate increased commerce.
- Organize mutual industrial exhibitions and adopt an Industrial Cooperation Program.
- Establish a special economic zone in Tashkent under the management of a leading Malaysian company to support investment projects.
Malaysia reaffirmed its support for Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), emphasizing the importance of integrating Uzbekistan into the global trade system.
The two leaders also declared 2025-2026 as a period of innovative development in Uzbek-Malaysian relations, identifying key areas for collaboration:
- Petrochemicals and chemicals
- Electronics and semiconductor industries
- Smart agriculture and green energy
- Pilgrimage tourism and cultural exchanges
To enhance cooperation, a strategic dialogue platform for foreign ministers will be established to oversee high-level agreements.
Cultural and humanitarian exchanges will also be strengthened. Cultural weeks will be held in Uzbekistan and Malaysia this year to foster greater people-to-people ties.
The leaders discussed regional security, emphasizing joint efforts in countering terrorism, radicalism, and Islamophobia. They also stressed the importance of cooperation within international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
To ensure the effective implementation of the agreements, Uzbekistan and Malaysia will develop a "road map" outlining key steps and timelines. At the end of the talks, President Mirziyoyev invited Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to visit Uzbekistan, further reinforcing the commitment to deepening ties.
In 2024, Malaysia's total trade with Uzbekistan saw a slight decline of 13.2% to RM369.8mn ($80.9mn), down from RM426.1mn ($94mn) in 2023.
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