Official website of the President of Russia

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The leaders had an in-depth discussion of key issues of bilateral political, trade and economic cooperation, outlined measures to further develop Russian-Malaysian interaction and exchanged views on current international and regional issues.

Following the talks, Vladimir Putin and Anwar Ibrahim made statements for the media. 

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Beginning of talks with Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, friends,

I am delighted to welcome you to Moscow.

Malaysia is a long-time, trusted and important partner for Russia in the world and in Southeast Asia. I know that Malaysia assumed the rotating ASEAN chairmanship on January 1, 2025. We hope that with your assistance our relations with that respected and reliable association will develop as steadily as relations between our countries, which are based on friendship and partnership.

We maintain steady trade and economic ties. However, it is regrettable that our trade, which can overall be described as good, decreased last year. Our intergovernmental commission will address this issue, seeking to understand the reasons behind this decline and doing everything in its power to move our relations onto a positive development trajectory.

We have good relations in virtually all spheres. I believe that we have maintained diplomatic relations since 1967. We sincerely hope that your visit will be fruitful as well.

We remember and are grateful to you for attending the Eastern Economic Forum. I know that from Moscow you will travel to Kazan, where you will attend the Russia – Islamic World Forum, which we consider to be very important. I have no doubt that your visit will not only be substantive but will also be held at a high level and will promote the further development of relations between our countries.

We are developing our cultural relationship. One of its elements, tourism, has both economic and cultural aspects. Malaysia is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for Russian tourists. We are grateful to you for working hard to ensure the comfort and safety of our citizens in Malaysia.

We are delighted to host your visit. Mr Prime Minister, welcome to Russia.

Of course, we also hope that everything we agree on will work effectively for the benefit of our countries, as I have said.

Thank you very much.

Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim: Thank you, President Putin, for this honour and opportunity.

You know that we have had extensive discussions. You have given us a rare privilege and honour, respect. Russia is a very important country, a great country, to accord us such a recognition. My delegation and I, of course, are full of appreciation.

The meeting in Vladivostok was very, to me, essential as an opener. We have now embarked on collaboration in trade, investment, in digital, in energy transition, food, technology, even nuclear, military. We have taken a position to ensure that the collaboration is covering all fields of these endeavours.

So I think we wish you well. I know it has been a very busy time. You have met so many important leaders in the last few weeks. And I sympathise with you, but we wish you well, and we look forward to the next few days even after my departure from Kazan – success in all deliberations.

We are, of course, a great friend of the Russian Federation, and I think Malaysians accord to you a lot of respect. We wish to have discussions with many in the business community, captains of industry, and just now with the Prime Minister. We are now trying to execute the plan. I think there have been enough discussions and meetings. I will seek, of course, your personal support so that this collaboration can be actualised as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, I would like to ask you to convey our best regards to Supreme Ruler Sultan Ibrahim. We hope to see him in Russia.

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