Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have agreed to deepen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in various sectors, including renewable energy, industry, electronics, agriculture, and food processing. The two leaders held talks in Kuala Lumpur, which included bilateral and expanded meetings between their delegations. They also witnessed the exchange of several memorandums of understanding, although the scope and investment values were not disclosed.
The joint committee, scheduled to meet in the first quarter of 2027, will follow up on the agreed areas of cooperation. Al-Sisi stated that both governments have the political will to make better use of their respective capabilities and deepen bilateral ties. The two sides also discussed religious and educational cooperation, with Egypt expressing its readiness to increase the number of Malaysian students studying at Al-Azhar and receive Malaysian preachers and teachers to promote moderate religious education.
On regional issues, Al-Sisi and Anwar agreed on the need to ease tensions and prioritize diplomatic solutions to international and regional crises. Al-Sisi emphasized that Egypt would continue its efforts to contain escalation in the Middle East. The talks also covered the Palestinian cause, with Al-Sisi reiterating Egypt's rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians or alter the demographic composition of Palestinian territories.
Al-Sisi called for full and sustained humanitarian access to Gaza and reaffirmed Cairo's support for an independent Palestinian state along the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, under a two-state solution. He praised Malaysia's support for the Palestinian cause and its humanitarian assistance. The two leaders also exchanged views on developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
During his visit, Al-Sisi met with Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim at the National Palace, where they discussed economic, trade, and investment cooperation, as well as closer political coordination in multilateral forums and cultural and academic ties. The Malaysian monarch awarded Al-Sisi the Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara, Malaysia's highest federal honor awarded to foreign heads of state, royals, and distinguished figures.
Al-Sisi also inspected Proton Saga vehicles and motorcycles and received briefings from executives at Proton and Modenas, although no new industrial or investment agreements were announced. He later departed for Jakarta for an official visit to Indonesia, the next stop on his Asian tour, where he was received by Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar and other officials.
The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral relations and explore new opportunities for cooperation between Egypt and Malaysia. Key areas of cooperation include renewable energy, industry, and electronics. The two countries have agreed to work together to address regional crises through diplomatic means.
Key points
- Egypt and Malaysia agree to expand cooperation in renewable energy, industry, and electronics.
- The two countries will establish a joint committee to follow up on agreed areas of cooperation.
- Al-Sisi and Anwar emphasized the need for diplomatic solutions to regional crises.
