Japan Pledges Support to Malaysia for Flood Management and Strengthened Bilateral Ties
Putrajaya, The Gulf Observer: Japan has pledged to assist Malaysia in enhancing its flood management capabilities, drawing on its expertise and experience in disaster prevention. The commitment was announced by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday (Jan 10).
“Malaysia is prone to flooding, so we agreed to cooperate by drawing upon Japan’s knowledge and experience in the field of disaster prevention,” Ishiba said.
The Japanese leader also lauded Malaysia’s economic vision under the Madani framework, highlighting shared priorities in sustainability, innovation, and prosperity.
“Especially in the area of economics, Prime Minister Anwar is advancing his Madani framework, which emphasises sustainability, innovation, and prosperity. We agreed to strengthen collaboration to provide resilience in supply chains,” Ishiba added.
Collaboration in Higher Education
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim spotlighted ongoing and future collaborations in higher education, including the establishment of a branch campus of Tsukuba University in Malaysia. He also noted existing partnerships involving Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Waseda University, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) through the Japan International Institute of Technology (JIIE).
Anwar also extended an invitation to Keio University, Ishiba’s alma mater, to participate in Malaysia’s educational and cultural initiatives.
“Keio University is an important institution with which I have had good engagements. I appeal to Prime Minister Ishiba to ensure Keio University participates in our programmes, including civilisational dialogues to foster engagement between Islam and Taoism,” Anwar said.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
Expressing his gratitude for the significance Japan places on its relationship with Malaysia, Anwar noted the importance of Ishiba’s visit.
“On behalf of the Malaysian delegation, I express our thanks and appreciation. Other than multilateral engagements, Malaysia is the first country that Prime Minister Ishiba has chosen for a bilateral meeting.
“This meeting is one of the most extensive I have experienced, demonstrating how seriously he views Malaysia. It covers issues of trade and investments, with the aim of elevating our bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership,” Anwar said.
The meeting underscored the deep ties between Malaysia and Japan, focusing on disaster prevention, economic resilience, and educational collaboration as cornerstones of their partnership.
