Singapore: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has praised President Vladimir Putin for steering Russia’s growth and pledged to deepen ties, saying there was “huge potential” to boost regional commerce relations.
Anwar, who’s on two-day go to to Moscow, mentioned it might be to Malaysia’s profit if Russia shared its achievements and agreed to “collaborate in all fields of endeavour”. Each international locations are discussing tie-ups starting from aerospace and superior applied sciences to agriculture and meals safety, its commerce already centered on semiconductors.
“You have got proven your dedication to have the ability to undertake difficulties and survive, and we’d actually profit from this expertise,” Anwar mentioned in a gathering with Putin on the sidelines of Russia’s Jap Financial Discussion board in Vladivostok.
The Malaysian has adopted within the footsteps of different Asian leaders in assembly with Putin for the reason that begin of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine greater than two years in the past, unmoved by the West’s condemnation of the Russian chief and his costs for alleged warfare crimes. The choice to go to Russia, Anwar mentioned, was “not a simple feat” but it surely was “the correct choice”.
Anwar mentioned South-east Asian international locations belonging to the ASEAN bloc have all the time engaged with Russia and there was an “open commerce” specializing in semiconductors and different associated fields. “I sit up for work with you and your group, however extra so, Mr President, I agree with you. The potential is large,” he mentioned.
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The US has been vital of smaller nations which have performed host to Putin since Russia attacked Ukraine. The American embassy in Hanoi earlier mentioned “no nation ought to give Putin a platform to advertise his warfare of aggression and in any other case enable him to normalise his atrocities”, in response to Vietnam internet hosting the Russian chief this 12 months.
Anwar has additionally accepted a private invitation from Putin for Malaysia to take part within the October BRICS Summit in Kazan, marking a “vital step” in the direction of Malaysia becoming a member of the grouping, he mentioned in a Fb submit.
Bloomberg