Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru arrived in Malaysia on Thursday, beginning a two-day official visit, marking his first visit to our country since taking office in October 2024.
Ishiba Shigeru, along with his wife Kiko and the Japanese delegation, arrived on a special plane, landing at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 5 PM today (9th).
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul and Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Kikkawa Kazuhisa welcomed Ishiba Shigeru in the hibiscus-themed VIP lounge at the airport.
Ishiba Shigeru then reviewed the guard of honor led by Captain Mohamad Iskandar, consisting of 28 officers and soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment (Ceremonial).
According to a statement from Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ishiba Shigeru will attend an official welcoming ceremony at the Prime Minister's Department in Putrajaya tomorrow, followed by talks with Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar.
Anwar and Ishiba Shigeru are expected to review the progress of Malaysia-Japan bilateral relations during their talks, particularly in areas such as trade and investment, human resource development, and energy cooperation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that they will also exchange views on various regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the Middle East situation, and subsequently hold a joint press conference.
Anwar will host a luncheon at the Prime Minister's residence to welcome the visiting Japanese Prime Minister.
Since the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and Japan was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2023, the ties between the two countries have grown increasingly close.
Japan is an important economic partner for Malaysia. As of June 2024, there are 2,821 manufacturing projects involving Japan, with a total investment of 105.2 billion Malaysian Ringgit ($30.4 billion), providing employment opportunities for approximately 344,996 people.
Japan is Malaysia's fourth-largest foreign source of investment in manufacturing and also Malaysia's fourth-largest trading partner. In 2023, the total bilateral trade reached 156.75 billion Malaysian Ringgit ($34.41 billion).