Prime Minister Anwar embarks on three-nation visit starting Tuesday
KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (picture) will undertake a series of visits to three countries – Italy, France, and Brazil – beginning July 1.
This series of visits by the Prime Minister, beginning with a three-day official visit to Italy starting Tuesday, forms part of Malaysia's ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and promote economic cooperation at the global level.
Malaysia's Ambassador to Italy, Datuk Zahid Rastam, noted that the Prime Minister's inaugural visit to Italy is being undertaken at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
'This visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and Italy across a wide range of sectors. It also reflects the government's commitment to exploring new initiatives in trade and investment, as well as cooperation in the fields of defence, energy, and agro-commodities,' he told reporters in Malaysia via Google Meet from Rome on Monday.
According to Wisma Putra, the Prime Minister will attend the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as a partner country in the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Zahid stated that during the official visit to Italy, the Prime Minister will be accompanied by five Cabinet ministers: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin, and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Also part of the delegation is Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
According to Zahid, the Prime Minister will also be accompanied by relevant senior government officials and a corporate delegation comprising representatives from 13 Malaysian companies across various sectors.
He said the Prime Minister and his delegation are expected to arrive at Fiumicino Airport in Rome at approximately 7.50 pm on Tuesday, July 1, and that he is scheduled to host an engagement session with the Malaysian diaspora in Italy later that evening.
On Wednesday, July 2, the Prime Minister will participate in a roundtable meeting with leading figures from Italian and Malaysian industries, in an event jointly organised by the governments of Malaysia and Italy known as the Malaysia–Italy Economic Partnership Roundtable, he said.
He added that the roundtable meeting will involve more than 50 companies, associations, and industry representatives from both Malaysia and Italy.
On the same day, the Prime Minister will hold meetings with Imam Yahya Pallavicini, Vice President of the Comunita Religiosa Islamica Italiana (COREIS), and Abdellah Redouane, Secretary-General of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy and the Mosque of Rome.
According to Zahid, on Thursday, July 3, the Prime Minister will be interviewed by Rai News 24, a leading and influential television news network in Italy.
In the interview, the Prime Minister is expected to speak on bilateral relations between Malaysia and Italy, trade and investment matters, as well as Malaysia's role as Chair of ASEAN 2025, he said.
He further said that at midday on July 3, Anwar is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi.
During the meeting, both sides will discuss a range of issues encompassing bilateral cooperation in economic sectors such as trade and investment, as well as collaboration in defence, renewable energy and the environment, agro-commodities, and the digital sector.
Zahid added that the discussions will also cover people-to-people cooperation, including education, cultural exchanges, the tourism sector, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern, such as the situation in the Middle East.
He noted that the Prime Minister's visit to Italy is highly significant in reflecting the close ties between the two countries.
During the visit, both leaders will reaffirm their countries' commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through more comprehensive cooperation.
Accoarding to Zahid, the visit would provide the mandate and momentum to elevate Malaysia–Italy bilateral relations towards a more strategic partnership in the future.
He said the visit as a whole will serve as a platform for the Prime Minister to articulate Malaysia's foreign policy, particularly the country's stands on regional and global issues on the international stage, while also highlighting Malaysia's current ASEAN Chairmanship.
Zahid highlighted that in 2024, total trade between Malaysia and Italy amounted to RM14.61 billion, with Malaysian exports to Italy valued at RM6.71 billion and imports from Italy totalling RM7.89 billion. Overall, Italy is Malaysia's fifth-largest trading partner among European countries. — BERNAMA
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