Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Prime Minister of Malasia Anwar Ibrahim who arrived in Kazan for the Russia-ASEAN summit

Meeting with Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim.
Photo: Kremlin.ru

Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Prime Minister of Malasia Anwar Ibrahim who arrived in Kazan for the Russia-ASEAN summit, Kremlin informs.

On the Russian side, the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Science and Higher Education, Russian Co-Chair of the Joint Russia-Malaysia Commission for Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation Valery Falkov, Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev, Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev, Special Presidential Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev, Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, First Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Vladimir Chistyukhin, General Director of the Roscosmos State Corporation Dmitry Bakanov, and Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev.

The meeting took place at the Galiasgar Kamal Tatar State Academic Theatre in Kazan.

Beginning of Russian-Malaysian talks

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

It is a pleasure to welcome you to Russia, and I am delighted that you have joined us for the summit marking the 35th anniversary of our country’s relations with ASEAN.

It was in Malaysia that the first meeting between the leaders of our countries in this format was held back in 2005. Last year, your country held the ASEAN chairmanship, and we are truly grateful for Malaysia’s support in advancing Russia’s strategic partnership with the Association.

Our two countries also coordinate closely in other international arenas, including the United Nations, BRICS, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Malaysia is a longstanding and trusted partner of Russia in the Asia-Pacific region, and our engagement has always relied on mutual respect and consideration for each other’s interests.

Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. And we approach this milestone with a rich legacy of fruitful cooperation behind us, and considerable scope for further growth ahead.

Political dialogue has visibly gathered pace. We last met during your official visit in May 2025. In August, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the Supreme Ruler of Malaysia, paid the first state visit to Russia in the entire history of our bilateral ties. He subsequently visited St Petersburg earlier this year, and most recently came to Moscow in May for the celebrations of the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. May I take this opportunity to ask you to pass on my warmest regards to His Majesty.

We also maintain regular contact at ministerial, agency, and parliamentary levels. Our practical cooperation is overseen by the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation.

Last year, our bilateral trade grew by 12.9 percent – a very encouraging result.

At the same time, we attach great importance to joint initiatives in education, science, technology, and to expanding tourism and people-to-people ties.

Today’s discussion offers us an excellent platform to discuss priority issues across the broad landscape of Russian-Malaysian relations.

Mr Prime Minister, friends, once again, welcome.

Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim: Thank you, Mr President, President Putin and delegation members.

May I express my profound gratitude to you for your hospitality, and also for the reception here in Kazan, and to the whole team, your team, and also to the Rais and his team. Thank you very much.

You know, the relations in the last few years have been remarkable. We have seen impressive development, and my visit was – you were fantastic. The story about the three thrones became viral throughout the world, thank you. Although I still have one wife till now.

And the King, may I also send respects from the King Ibrahim, who was very impressed and considers you, President Putin, as his friend, and the Russian people as a country that we can foster better relations.

Now, bilateral mechanisms have expanded in all fields, and I think you have seen that. Even our hosting Russia in the Muslim World in Kuala Lumpur last year – it was a fantastic event, very successful, great participation, Rais Rustam was there and we accord all the support necessary to make sure that we embrace the friendship of the Russian people and see the enormous role that Russia can play not only in Malaysia but also in the developing world, ASEAN and the rest.

We are exploring this Halal economy and finance. We are now almost finishing the visa abolition arrangement. The delay is caused by the Foreign Minister, but otherwise things are developing very well. Trade investments – there are issues, Mr President. As you know, energy, you have given fantastic support. Thank you very much. Petronas was here with your counterpart, some of the companies here. We certainly got great admiration for your determination to enhance that collaboration and support during the initial energy crisis and now. And then you have also agreed these flights for tourism, for trade, and connectivity between Malaysia, Moscow, Kazan, and other cities in Russia. I hope you can give the required support to enhance that and facilitate, in fact, accelerate that process. And there are so many issues. I must take this opportunity to thank you for your position vis-à-vis Gaza and now Iran.

You have taken a very consistent, principled position. And I must say, on behalf of the Malaysian people and many others, how we admire your tenacity and conviction. Thank you.

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