RIYADH: Malaysia and the Kingdom have pledged to boost cooperation ahead of an official visit by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in January next year.
“The two countries have agreed to take the bilateral ties to new heights,” said Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, who concluded his two-day visit to the capital on Sunday.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal had invited Anifah, who also held talks with Interior Minister and Second Deputy Premier Prince Naif and Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf. Malaysia’s Ambassador Syed Omar Al-Saggaf was also present during discussions.
“We agreed to boost bilateral relations between the two countries in investment, tourism and other new areas of cooperation that are of mutual interest,” Anifah said.
Anifah said Assaf had told him Saudi Arabia regards Malaysia as a model for developing countries. “During the discussion, the Saudi minister welcomed Malaysian businesses to participate in various major construction projects being undertaken by his government, including mineral exploration,” Anifah said.
The two ministers also discussed Malaysia and Asian countries’ possible involvement in the work of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as well as the volatile situation in Palestine and other recent political and security developments in the region that have impacted on Muslim countries.
Prince Saud underlined the Saudi government’s interest in cooperating with Malaysia and other Asian countries in food production and exports to the Kingdom as well as working together on issues that could benefit the Muslim world.
Najib, who came to power in April, made a visit to Saudi Arabia in July to perform Umrah and also contacted Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, who indicated that Saudi Arabia might play a more active role in Islamic banking, Islamic products and services and equity in Malaysia following the liberalization of the country’s economy. The prime minister is expected to start his two-day visit to the Kingdom on Jan. 15.
