KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) — Japan and Malaysia have reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering strategic cooperation across various sectors, including security, trade, sustainability, and education, as both nations mark decades of strong bilateral ties.
Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, Noriyuki Shikata, highlighted key developments during a reception celebrating the 65th birthday of Emperor of Japan here Wednesday night (Feb 26) attended by Economic Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
“At the beginning of this year, Prime Minister (Shigeru) Ishiba visited Malaysia for his first bilateral visit as Prime Minister. Both Prime Minister Ishiba and Prime Minister Anwar (Ibrahim) welcomed the significant development of strategic dialogues between our two governments, as well as the commencement of joint bilateral exercises between the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Forces and the Royal Malaysian Navy,” said Shikata.
He noted that Japan remains committed to the Free and Open Indo-Pacific initiative, adding that Tokyo will enhance its Official Security Assistance (OSA) to Malaysia, including providing surveillance and monitoring equipment.
Japan continues to be a major investor in Malaysia, with direct investments surpassing RM100 billion in 2024. In line with carbon neutrality goals, Shikata said both countries are expanding cooperation on decarbonisation projects, including Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) and the adoption of hydrogen and ammonia as alternative fuels.
“During the Malaysian Chair of ASEAN this year, Japan and Malaysia will co-host the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) summit and ministerial meetings. I am pleased to announce that Minister of Economy Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli will co-host the AZEC ministerial meeting later this year, promoting AZEC initiatives together,” he said.
Cultural and educational exchanges between both nations have also deepened, with the number of Malaysians visiting Japan increasing nearly sevenfold from 74,000 to over 500,000 in the past three years.
“Malaysia’s proactive and creative participation in the upcoming Osaka-Kansai Expo, themed ‘Designing Future Societies for Our Lives’, reflects its strong commitment to sustainability and diversity,” said Shikata.
The ambassador also acknowledged the role of the Look East Policy in fostering closer ties, with 28,000 Malaysians having studied or trained in Japan.
“The establishment of the University of Tsukuba’s branch campus in Malaysia last year marks a new milestone, allowing students to obtain a Japanese university degree here while offering Japanese students opportunities to study in Malaysia under a ‘Look-at-Each-Other’ policy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Japanese expatriate community in Malaysia, which had declined to 20,000 due to COVID-19, is expected to rebound as bilateral exchanges regain momentum.
The reception also featured exhibitions of Japan’s premium products and cutting-edge technologies, alongside cultural showcases, including anime and Japanese cuisine.
— BERNAMA