In a discussion between Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently, the two leaders covered topics revolving around strengthening the strategic partnership between both countries in various aspects.
“The focus and the fundamentals are of course economics but also defense and education,” Anwar noted, saying that the two governments will immediately begin to establish cooperation not only with each other, but also with ASEAN as Malaysia is the current chair of the 10-member bloc.
Both leaders also discussed cooperation in the fields of green energy, artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation.
“This is the first visit to Europe as ASEAN chair (and) I took the available opportunity to express Malaysia’s readiness to welcome more investors and form a new economic synergy,” Anwar said.
Earlier, Malaysian High Commissioner to the UK and Northern Ireland Zakri Jaafar said Malaysian products – particularly palm oil – were expected to benefit from tariff-free access in the UK under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement as the UK formally joined it last December.
On this, Anwar expressed his appreciation by saying, “It takes serious political commitment on the part of the UK and Malaysia, focusing on economic fundamentals in the interest of both nations to promote free trade.”
In October 2024, Malaysia ratified the CPTPP, joining Peru, Japan, Singapore, Chile, New Zealand and Vietnam. Under this framework, tariffs for products by member countries will be reduced to zero.
