Putrajaya, January 10, 2025 – The Europe Today: Malaysia has pledged full backing for Japan’s initiative to co-chair a ministerial conference on Palestinian development, scheduled for July 2025. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed Malaysia’s commitment to the initiative during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Perdana Putra building on Friday (Jan 10).
The conference aims to enhance cooperation among East Asian nations with a focus on the reconstruction of Gaza and Palestine.
“On regional issues, we have agreed to support Japan’s initiative to co-chair a ministerial meeting in July, a conference on cooperation among East Asian countries for Palestinian development,” Anwar stated. “It is essentially focused on the reconstruction of Gaza and Palestine, which is very meaningful to us in Malaysia and, I am sure, to many countries, including Muslims throughout the world.”
The Malaysian leader highlighted the significance of the initiative as a step towards addressing the challenges faced by the Palestinian people. He reaffirmed Malaysia’s dedication to contributing to the cause of Palestinian development and reconstruction.
Prime Minister Ishiba underscored Malaysia’s strategic role in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, describing the country as a vital bridge between Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
“Malaysia, as a major country with a large number of Muslims, holds strategic importance. Regarding the Middle East situation, including Gaza, and leveraging East Asia’s knowledge towards the economic independence of the region, we agreed to cooperate for regional peace and stability,” Ishiba said.
Both leaders expressed optimism that the upcoming conference would galvanize international efforts to foster sustainable development and peace in Palestinian territories.
The initiative reflects the shared commitment of Malaysia and Japan to addressing global issues collaboratively and enhancing their role in regional and international peacebuilding efforts.
