Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will have several meetings with leaders from five countries and industry captains during his visit to New York. The purpose of the visit is to enhance Malaysia’s international position and attract investments to the country, as reported by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir. Besides delivering the National Statement at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 22, Anwar will have bilateral meetings with leaders from Turkiye, Iran, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Iraq.
Zambry mentioned that Anwar will also meet with Helen Clark, the Chair of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Board, which is responsible for good governance in the oil, gas, and minerals sector. The Prime Minister’s schedule will be busy from the moment he arrives on September 20, starting with a bilateral meeting with Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Zambry also mentioned that requests from other countries to meet Anwar are still coming in frequently.
During the interview with Malaysian media at the Office of the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations, Zambry expressed the potential for strengthening ties between Malaysia and Iraq through the proposed meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. This meeting could provide opportunities for both countries to further their cooperation, particularly in areas like petroleum and gas. Zambry had visited Iraq last month as part of strengthening bilateral relations and exploring new cooperation avenues.
Last year, Iraq was Malaysia’s sixth largest trading partner among West Asian countries, with total trade reaching RM4.68bil (US$1.07 bil), representing a 24.3% growth compared to the previous year. During his visit, Anwar is scheduled to participate in a Round Table Discussion with Fortune 500 Companies and engage with Invest Malaysia New York. He will also have meetings with entrepreneurs and potential investors from the United States, including Boeing, Kimberly Clark, Phillip Morris International, and Procter & Gamble (P&G).
One of the highlights of Anwar’s itinerary is his participation in a discussion session with members of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), an independent nonpartisan think tank and publisher that aims to promote understanding of international relations and foreign policy. The session is expected to cover various topics, including Malaysia-US relations, the impact of US-China competition on Malaysia, and the importance of Malaysian diplomacy in Southeast Asia.
In addition to his official engagements, Prime Minister Anwar is also scheduled to be interviewed by Christiane Amanpour from CNN and Bloomberg during his stay in New York.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
