Trump administration keen on elevating US-Malaysia ties: Reezal Merican

KUALA LUMPUR: The United States under the Donald Trump administration has continued to show interest in enhancing ties with Malaysia, the Dewan Negara was told today.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (pix) said that in the most recent move, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made a two-day visit to the country from Aug 8.
Tillerson had called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"During the meetings, they discussed bilateral cooperation as well as bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest," he said in reply to Senator Datuk Hoh Khai Mun.
Reezal Merican said trade between Malaysia and the United States continued to increase, by 20.4% in the January-June period of this year, valued at RM81.1 billion (US$18.4 billion).

He said the trade balance was in favour of Malaysia with a value of RM5.38 million (US$1.22 million) while trade balance in services was in favour of the United States with a value of RM1.78 billion (US$429 million).
Malaysia and the United States have mutually agreed on eradicating terrorist activities and this could be seen from the involvement of their two leaders at the Arab and Muslim leaders summit in Riyadh on May 21.
"The presence of Datuk Seri Najib and President Donald Trump at the summit proves that Malaysia and the United States stand on a common platform and are willing to cooperate with allied countries in tackling terrorism issues," Reezal Merican said.
Malaysia, he said, was confident that the existing collaboration with the United States would continue favourably under the leadership of President Trump, as with previous US leaderships. — Bernama