Bilateral Engagement: Malaysia-Myanmar Cooperation Dialogue

The Malaysia-Myanmar Cooperation Dialogue took place at the Malaysian Prime Minister's Residence on Thursday. President U Min Aung Hlaing and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim attended the event, together with the high ranking officials from both sides.

The Executive Chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia (ISIS Malaysia) and the Chairman of the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISIS) discussed geopolitical developments, security cooperation, investment opportunities, and areas for further cooperation.

The Malaysian Prime Minister said discussions between the ISIS Malaysia and MISIS could help review and implement cooperation in multiple areas. The Prime Minister also described the dialogue as an important platform for increasing people-to-people engagement between the two countries and thanked the Myanmar leader for accepting his invitation to visit Malaysia. President U Min Aung Hlaing said the dialogue aimed not only to review existing relations but also to strengthen mutual understanding and trust and explore ways to take bilateral engagement to a new level.

He called for closer cooperation between MISIS and ISIS Malaysia and said stronger think-tank cooperation could help both sides openly exchange views and identify common interests. He said future Myanmar–Malaysia relations should aim for a “Next Level of Bilateral Engagement,” involving governments, businesses, think tanks, academics and the people of both countries.

Priority areas should include trade and investment, energy and food security, supply chains and connectivity, the digital economy, human-resource development and people-to-people ties. He expressed hope that the dialogue could lead to further discussions, joint research and stronger government-to-government, business-to-business and think-tank-to-think-tank cooperation, rather than ending at the discussion stage. This was followed by a luncheon in honour of the high-level Myanmar delegation. The visiting President and the Malaysian Prime Minister enjoyed the luncheon while the cultural troupes performed with traditional songs and dances.