Anwar, South African President hold bilateral talks on expanding strategic cooperation
The meeting provided both leaders an opportunity to reassess various forms of cooperation across multiple sectors, as well as to chart new strategies to expand strategic investments in agriculture, automotive, tourism and the halal industry.
"I expressed my appreciation for South Africa's firm support for the Palestinian struggle, including their efforts at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)," Anwar said.
He added that Malaysia is committed to strengthening ties with South Africa as a key trading partner on the African continent, in line with the spirit of South-South solidarity and Madani cooperation across continents.
"I also extended an invitation to President Ramaphosa to attend the Asean Summit this October, and expressed my gratitude for the invitation for Malaysia to attend the G20 Summit in South Africa this November."
Anwar is currently in Brazil to attend the 17th BRICS Leaders' Summit.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
Malaysia pushes for global health equity and climate justice at BRICS summit
RIO DE JANEIRO: Malaysia has called for greater equity in global health and climate action at the 17th BRICS Leaders Summit, emphasising the need for fair vaccine distribution, stronger public health systems, and sustainable financing for developing nations. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that financial systems must not undermine essential services like healthcare and clean water. 'Let us begin with a hard truth. In too much of the world, life expectancy remains shaped not by biology, but by income,' he said during the summit's session on environment and global health. Anwar welcomed the launch of the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases, noting that addressing disease requires tackling underlying social conditions. He also advocated for deeper ASEAN-BRICS collaboration in health surveillance, knowledge sharing, and cross-border resilience. On climate action, Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to reducing emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050. Anwar highlighted policy measures such as the National Energy Transition Roadmap and the development of carbon pricing mechanisms. However, he pointed out that climate finance remains insufficient, with only US$300 billion available annually against an estimated US$3 trillion needed by developing nations. As ASEAN Chair, Malaysia is working to enhance regional climate coordination, improve green finance access, and position Southeast Asia as a hub for clean energy innovation. Ahead of COP30 in Brazil, Anwar urged a shift 'from aspiration to execution,' stressing that climate justice involves fair allocation of capital, risk, and responsibility. Anwar arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Malaysia became a BRICS Partner Country on January 1 this year.
The Star
33 minutes ago
- The Star
Asean Summit draws global leaders
Many have confirmed attendance for the meeting in October, says Anwar RIO DE JANEIRO: The upcoming 47th Asean Summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur in October may be the most prominent ever held, with participation from a number of leaders besides the 'traditional' ones. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ( pic ) said so far, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have confirmed their attendance. 'Of course, traditional partners like Japan, South Korea, China, India, Australia and New Zealand will also be there, among others. 'I believe this will be a heavy responsibility (for Malaysia) but we can do it,' he told Malaysian journalists after concluding his working and official week-long visits to Rome, Paris and Rio de Janeiro, where Anwar attended the BRICS Summit and Business Leaders Summit. Anwar said all parties supported multilateral cooperation and rejected unilateralism. 'While they may express it diplomatically without naming any nation, the sentiment is clear. 'Secondly, there is a call for the Global South to rise, something I emphasised in my speech to BRICS business leaders,' he said. Echoes of this point had been heard in previous smaller meetings including the Afro-Asian Conference in Bandung 1955 and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), but BRICS has a broader network, real economic strength and active programmes, like discussions on digital banking. Anwar said South Africa and Brazil were becoming more closely aligned with Malaysia and Asean. 'I believe this is a meaningful step, a 60-year-long attempt at solidarity that is now gaining real traction. 'In the past, Global South leaders had compelling visions but lacked economic or technological power,' he said, adding that these days, some members build aircraft and others lead in AI. 'Their capabilities are much higher now, but the spirit of the Global South has never been hostile. We still prioritise relationships with developed nations beyond the Global South,' he added. On the successes of his trip, Anwar said in addition to the oil and gas sector, Malaysia scored in the possibility of building large vessels for O&G transport, a point of national pride for local firms. He said a significant honour was accorded to them when he was invited by President Lula to deliver the keynote address at the BRICS Corporate Business Conference which was attended by thousands, including women entrepreneurs and traders. The Prime Minister also held bilateral meetings with leaders of India, Vietnam and South Africa, opening doors to increased trade and investment possibilities. Anwar also met Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on peace negotiations for Gaza, and the World Trade Organisation director-general to urge for fairer reforms and more equitable trade guarantees. In his BRICS speech, Anwar stressed on AI and digitalisation as key themes and addressed the Gaza atrocities. The Prime Minister said that during negotiations, he pushed for conditions which benefitted the nation – for part of the production or a base to be in Malaysia. Anwar was on a series of visits to three countries since July 1, starting with Italy, followed by France and ending with Brazil. The visits to the major economic hubs of Rome, Paris and Rio de Janeiro were aimed at strengthening Malaysia's diplomatic ties and trade relations with the nations concerned. The three markets collectively recorded bilateral trade valued at RM50.91bil last year. Anwar was accompanied by a business delegation comprising representatives from major Malaysian corporations and innovative enterprises, including PETRONAS, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Maybank, FGV, YTL Power and Sunway.
The Star
33 minutes ago
- The Star
Papua New Guinea's Asean bid faces a long road
KUALA LUMPUR: Papua New Guinea's bid to join Asean may be raised at the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM), but analysts expect a long and winding road ahead. They point to Timor-Leste's experience, which will finally be admitted in October as the 11th member nation of the regional grouping, due to the slew of political, legal and economic requirements it had to comply with. Julia Roknifard, senior lecturer at the School of Law and Governance, Taylor's University, said the island nation's bid to join the grouping could be a topic during the Asean-Australia dialogue. ALSO READ: Asean balancing act begins She said it was Timor-Leste's turn to accede this year, with matters still being assessed given the vast economic disparity between the country and the rest of Asean. 'So for Papua New Guinea, it will be a long way to accession.' Roknifard said discussions on facilitating Papua New Guinea's membership could centre on the possibility of setting up a commission, as was done during Timor-Leste's bid to join the regional grouping. More importantly, she said Papua New Guinea has 'to satisfy the geographical criteria', with the rest remaining at the discretion of Asean members. 'Papua New Guinea is rich in natural resources and can contribute to commodity exports of Asean. 'It is also home to a population of 10 million, which is a big consumer base,' she said. Political analyst Azmi Hassan said certain South-East Asian countries might not be interested in accepting Papua New Guinea as a full-fledged Asean member, given its proximity to Australia. 'Geographically, Papua New Guinea is not part of South-East Asia, so it will be difficult for them to be accepted wholeheartedly by Asean members.' Universiti Malaya International and Strategic Studies Department Assoc Prof Dr Khoo Ying Hooi also said the island nation's bid 'may not move fast'. 'There will be questions about whether it is ready institutionally, politically and economically to meet Asean standards. 'It is not just about wanting to join, as Asean will look at whether Papua New Guinea fits with the region's dynamics, and whether its inclusion will make consensus even harder to achieve, especially when we are already stuck on big issues like Myanmar,' she said, adding that Papua New Guinea is situated in Oceania and has closer ties within that region. 'While Papua New Guinea's application might be discussed or acknowledged, I don't see any real decision happening soon.' On Saturday, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry said Papua New Guinea's bid to join Asean will be discussed at the AMM in Kuala Lumpur. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto expressed support for the move during the 46th Asean Summit held in Kuala Lumpur in May.
