Japan-Malaysia Summit Meeting (Summary)

On January 10, commencing at 9:25 a.m. local time (10:25 a.m. Japan time) for approximately 90 minutes, Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru, who is visiting Malaysia, held a Japan-Malaysia summit meeting with Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia at the Prime Minister's Office. The overview of the meeting is as follows (small group meeting: for approximately 25 minutes from 9:25 a.m., plenary meeting: for approximately 65 minutes from 9:55 a.m.). The meeting was preceded by a welcome ceremony and followed by a joint press occasion and a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Anwar.

1. At the outset, Prime Minister Anwar welcomed Prime Minister ISHIBA's visit to Malaysia and expressed his expectation for further strengthening of bilateral relations. In response, Prime Minister ISHIBA stated that he was pleased to visit Malaysia on his first bilateral visit as Prime Minister of Japan. Furthermore, Prime Minister ISHIBA stated that the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) is indispensable as the international society faces a complex crisis, and expressed his desire to have a wide-ranging discussion on regional and international issues as well as strengthening Japan-Malaysia relations. Prime Minister Anwar responded that he would work closely with Prime Minister ISHIBA to further deepen bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas.

2. With regard to bilateral relations, the two leaders concurred to deepen cooperation in the following four main areas.

(1)In security area, the two leaders welcomed the rapid development of the strategic dialogues between the two countries, such as Foreign Vice-Ministerial consultations and strategic dialogue between foreign and defense authorities, as well as the start of bilateral exercises between Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy, and concurred to continue to enhance such cooperation. Prime Minister ISHIBA affirmed that he would make steady progress on OSA (Official Security Assistance) such as the provision of equipment for warning and surveillance activities including rescue boats, and Prime Minister Anwar expressed his gratitude. The two leaders also welcomed to reach consensus in principle on a memorandum of cooperation between the Japan Coast Guard and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and shared the view to further promote cooperation in the area of maritime safety and to continue to collaborate between the relevant authorities in the area of cyber security.

(2)In economic area, the two leaders concurred to cooperate in supply chains resilience in important sectors such as semiconductors and aircraft parts, and developing rare earth resources, taking into account Malaysia “Madani“ policy that Prime Minister Anwar is promoting, which emphasizes sustainability, innovation and prosperity.

The two leaders also confirmed the promotion of cooperation in the resource and infrastructure development to ensure energy security and decarbonization through various pathways.

In particular, the two leaders confirmed stable supply of LNG from Malaysia and expressed their intention to further promote collaboration in the areas of Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS), ammonia power generation and power grid, technical cooperation in ocean thermal energy conversion and biomass sector, and cooperation such as hydrogen and LNG. The two leaders concurred to further strengthen cooperation in the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) platform.

(3)In disaster management area, Prime Minister ISHIBA expressed his hope to utilize Japan's knowledge and experience in disaster risk management to assist Malaysia in disaster prevention and mitigation for frequent and severe wind and flood disasters. The two leaders concurred to continue collaboration in the area of disaster prevention.

(4)In human resources development area, Prime Minister ISHIBA stated that Japan will continue to cooperate through higher education institutions such as Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology and the branch campus of University of Tsukuba, and the two leaders confirmed that they support exchanges and cooperation among universities in both countries.

3. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international situations, including the situation in the East and South China Sea, the Middle East and Myanmar, and confirmed that they would continue to work together to address these issues.

In particular, regarding the situation in the Middle East, Prime Minister ISHIBA expressed serious concern over the devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza, and explained that Japan provides assistance for Palestine. The two leaders concurred to support Palestinian development and promote collaboration, including cooperation for Palestine.

The two leaders affirmed the importance of maintaining and enhancing a free and open international order based on the rule of law to lead the world towards cooperation through realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), and confirmed that they continue to work together.