Malaysia and Russia strengthen higher education and technology cooperation with new agreements on energy, scholarships and direct flights.
ALOR SETAR: Malaysia and Russia have reinforced their strategic partnership in higher education and technology through their latest bilateral commission meeting.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov co-chaired the 4th Joint Malaysia-Russia Commission for Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation.
The JC-ESTC meeting produced several significant outcomes including partial visa abolition and efforts to resume direct flights between both countries.
Russia will award 40 annual scholarships to Malaysian students as part of the enhanced educational cooperation.
Both nations agreed to cooperate in peaceful energy and nuclear development alongside renewable energy exploration.
Additional agreements cover sustainable waste management and trade diversification in aerospace, halal industries and green technology.
Zambry stated that this cooperation creates opportunities across multiple sectors that benefit both countries.
Malaysia and Russia currently maintain 34 strategic agreements through memoranda of understanding and letters of intent.
The partnership involves higher education institutions, government agencies and companies from both nations.
Malaysia anticipates hosting the next JC-ESTC meeting in Russia next year to build upon current progress.
The JC-ESTC was established in 2015 as a key platform for strengthening Malaysia-Russia relations. – Bernama
