Macron Hails Anwar Ibrahim’s Visit to France as a Success, Emphasizes Revitalized Bilateral Ties
Paris, The Gulf Observer: French President Emmanuel Macron has hailed the official visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a significant success, describing it as a key moment in reinvigorating the longstanding partnership between France and Malaysia across multiple strategic sectors.
Speaking during a joint engagement in Paris, President Macron praised the breadth and depth of Prime Minister Anwar’s engagements during his visit.
“You have had high-level meetings with the Prime Minister [François Bayrou] and other key officials, delivered an important speech at the Sorbonne, engaged with civil society leaders, and met with our business community,” Macron noted.
He emphasized that the strengthening of economic ties and the pursuit of shared diversification strategies are vital, particularly in the current global context. Referring to recent developments, Macron highlighted several new areas of cooperation, including:
- A major project in the critical minerals and rare earths sector with the French company Carester, which recently inaugurated a processing plant in Lacq;
- Continued collaboration in transportation, especially through the historic partnership between Malaysia Airlines and Airbus;
- Joint efforts in the energy transition, including support for civil nuclear energy and regional electricity connectivity in Southeast Asia.
President Macron also underscored the importance of human connections and cultural diplomacy between the two nations. “I must also mention the exchanges between our artists, researchers, academics, and students — all those who bring the France–Malaysia relationship to life. New agreements are in view to continue weaving this human connection between our countries,” he added.
In response, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed the strong government-to-government cooperation and highlighted the increasing engagement of the private sector as a vital component of bilateral relations.
“The collaboration among the private sector is the reason why government-level arrangements, ministerial exchanges, and policy dialogues should be strengthened,” Anwar stated. He praised France’s contribution to Malaysia’s education sector, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, digital engineering, and technical training.
“We have benefited immensely from education and training here in France. Now, we are seeing growing interest from French students to study in Malaysia. Tourism is also increasing, and we are eager to explore more avenues for cooperation,” he concluded.
The official visit underscored a shared commitment to advancing bilateral ties through innovation, sustainability, education, and economic resilience, setting a strong foundation for the next chapter in France–Malaysia relations.
