Korea and Malaysia Conclude FTA... To Cooperate in Future Sectors Including Defense

Malaysian Prime Minister: "Korea Is a Key Partner in Defense"

President Lee Jae-myung and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim are taking a commemorative photo before their bilateral meeting at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia on the 27th. Photo by Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held a summit on the 27th, where they welcomed the conclusion of the FTA negotiations. The two leaders agreed to further strengthen cooperation in areas such as defense in the future.

Kang Yoo-jung, spokesperson for the presidential office, stated in a written briefing on this day that President Lee achieved these results through his first summit with Prime Minister Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

President Lee said, "It is very meaningful to visit Malaysia, a long-standing friendly nation and this year's ASEAN chair, as my first ASEAN destination since taking office." In response, Prime Minister Anwar expressed his appreciation for President Lee's visit to Malaysia despite his busy schedule preparing for the APEC summit, and replied, "President Lee's visit to Malaysia will provide important momentum for elevating Korea-Malaysia relations and Korea-ASEAN relations to a new level."

Spokesperson Kang explained, "The two leaders welcomed the conclusion of the FTA negotiations between Korea and Malaysia through this summit," and added, "Based on this, not only will trade and investment between the two countries as key economic partners in the region further expand, but cooperation in strategic industries such as digital and AI is also expected to accelerate."

Prime Minister Anwar stated, "Korea is a reliable and important partner in strengthening Malaysia's defense capabilities," expressing his expectations for enhanced defense cooperation with Korea following the signing of the defense memorandum of understanding (MOU). The two leaders agreed that there is great potential for cooperation between the two countries in future-oriented fields such as defense, smart infrastructure, and energy transition, and shared the intention to further expand areas of cooperation going forward.

Meanwhile, spokesperson Kang reported that President Lee requested Malaysia's support and cooperation for the Korean government's efforts to usher in a new era of peaceful coexistence and joint growth on the Korean Peninsula. In response, Prime Minister Anwar stated, "I support the Korean government's policy on the Korean Peninsula," and pledged to actively work with ASEAN and the international community to ensure that the Korean government's efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula bear fruit.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.