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Before the talks, the President of Russia held an official welcoming ceremony for Sultan Ibrahim of Malaysia.

Taking part in the conversation on Russia’s side were Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Science and Higher Education, Co-Chair of the Joint Russia-Malaysia Commission for Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation Valery Falkov, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin, and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.

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Beginning of Russian-Malaysian talks in restricted format

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Your Majesty, friends,

It is my great pleasure to warmly welcome you to Moscow.

We greatly value the friendship our two nations share, with diplomatic relations spanning nearly six decades.

Over these years, we have built a strong political dialogue, maintained close governmental interaction, and fostered ongoing ties between our parliamentarians.

Our trade is growing at an impressive pace. As I just mentioned while we were walking towards this hall, I have had the privilege of visiting Malaysia three times, and each visit left me with the warmest memories. Your country’s hospitality and the high-level reception we received, along with its unique, breathtaking nature, remain unforgettable – not only for me but also for members of my delegation who have had the honour of visiting Malaysia.

I have already mentioned the ongoing contacts between our respective departments. Your government leaders often visit our country, and I also have good relations with them.

I must also note that bilateral trade grew by over 40 percent in the first five months of this year, which I see as an impressive achievement.

We cooperate on various international platforms – above all, of course, the United Nations. But it is well known that promoting dialogue with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which Malaysia chairs this year, remains one of Russia’s key foreign policy priorities in Asia.

Beyond our bilateral ties, Your Majesty, we are deeply grateful to you for Malaysia’s role in strengthening Russia’s engagement with the broader region.

Furthermore, we were pleased to support Kuala Lumpur’s interest in joining BRICS as a partner state – a landmark step that will benefit both our bilateral relations and the future of BRICS. Your country’s contributions to the recent summit in Rio de Janeiro were highly commendable.

We also appreciate Malaysia’s active participation in the Russia – Islamic World strategic vision group, which has become an effective tool for fostering mutual understanding and cooperation between Russia and Islamic nations.

Your Majesty, I am confident that your visit will be both productive and rewarding. Beyond our official discussions, I hope you and your delegation will have the opportunity to experience and appreciate Moscow – one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing metropolises in the world.

Welcome, Your Majesty!

Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar: Your Excellency Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation.

Greetings and a very good afternoon. I wish to thank you for receiving me. It is my great honour to meet you here in Moscow. It has always been my dream to meet you in person. I sincerely thank you for the invitation.

I admire your leadership. You have steered Russia through significant and often challenging moments. You have proven yourself as a statesman in times that demanded strength, vision and resilience.

Let me also take this opportunity to extend my deepest condolences to you and to the Russian people on the disaster that struck the Kamchatka Peninsula. My thoughts are with the victims.

Your Excellency,

Our diplomatic relations span more than five decades, having been formally established in April 1967. I am reminded that Malaysia was among the earliest ASEAN nations to establish ties with Moscow.

For Malaysia, Russia is a trusted and important partner. This state visit is, therefore, a reflection of my sincere wish to reinforce our relationship and cooperation. As a Russian saying goes, friendship is more valuable than money. It is the spirit of friendship, I believe, that will continue to shape the direction of the relationship between our two nations for the benefit of our people.

Thank you, Your Excellency.