Putrajaya, January 10, 2025 – The Europe Today: Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was accorded an official welcome at the Perdana Putra Complex on Friday (Jan 10), marking his first official visit to Malaysia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim greeted Ishiba upon his arrival at 9 a.m., with the ceremony including the playing of the national anthems of both countries. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and members of the Malaysian Cabinet were also present at the event.
As part of the welcome, Ishiba inspected a guard of honor comprising 103 personnel and three officers from the First Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment, led by Major Arifuddin Mohd Yusuf.
The two leaders are scheduled to hold bilateral talks to review the progress of Malaysia-Japan relations, focusing on key areas such as trade and investment, human resource development, and energy cooperation. They are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues, including developments in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Ishiba’s two-day visit underscores the strong and enduring ties between Malaysia and Japan. As of June 2024, Malaysia had implemented 2,821 manufacturing projects involving Japanese investments, amounting to RM105.2 billion (US$30.4 billion). These projects have created 344,996 job opportunities, with Japan ranking as Malaysia’s fourth-largest foreign investor in the manufacturing sector.
In 2023, Japan also maintained its position as Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner, with total trade valued at RM156.75 billion (US$34.41 billion). From January to November 2024, Malaysia-Japan trade reached RM140.62 billion (US$30.67 billion).
The bilateral relationship between the two nations has deepened further since December 2023, when ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, highlighting a shared commitment to mutual growth and collaboration.
