Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s official Turkey visit centres on a high-level strategic council meeting with President Erdogan and aims to double bilateral trade.
ANKARA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s three-day official visit to Turkey began today, with the inaugural Malaysia-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting scheduled as the trip’s highlight.
Malaysia’s Ambassador to Turkey, Sazali Mustafa Kamal, said the meeting will be co-chaired by Anwar and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He stated the council serves as the main platform to discuss strategic cooperation across various sectors, with a joint statement to be issued at its conclusion.
The ambassador noted the meeting marks a high point of Anwar’s first official visit to Turkey, undertaken at President Erdogan’s invitation.
Anwar will receive an official welcome at the Presidential Complex before a closed-door meeting with Erdogan to discuss critical bilateral issues.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to chair a roundtable meeting with Turkish companies to explore new economic and trade cooperation avenues.
Sazali said this reflects the MADANI Government’s commitment to strengthening ties, with about 40 Turkish companies from various sectors expected to participate.
Anwar is slated to deliver a public lecture titled ‘Power Shift: Strategic Choices for Malaysia and Turkey’ to professionals, academics, officials and students.
On economic ties, Sazali noted bilateral trade reached USD 5.2 billion in 2024, with a new target set to raise the figure to USD 10 billion.
During the visit, Anwar is accompanied by his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and several cabinet ministers.
