TOKYO, June 10 — Malaysia and Japan have agreed to strengthen cooperation in energy, strategic industries and supply chain resilience, following talks between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said other issues discussed included defence and maritime security, strategic industries, energy transition, financial cooperation, human capital development, as well as regional and international issues.
On energy cooperation, he said Malaysia and Japan concluded a long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) deal between Petronas and Japan’s Jera for the supply of two million tonnes per annum over 20 years beginning in 2028.
“This is a remarkable feat and a success in terms of trust and collaboration between the two great friendly countries,” he said in a joint press conference after the bilateral meeting today, marking his first official visit to Japan since taking office.
On defence and maritime security, Anwar said Malaysia as a maritime nation would continue to strengthen cooperation with Japan under its Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework.
He said work would continue this year on a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) on maritime safety and security, which Malaysia would support.
Anwar said both countries also discussed cooperation in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, digital technologies, critical minerals and resilient supply chains.
He said Malaysia is following Japan’s Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia (POWERR) Asia initiative under Takaichi’s leadership.
On financial cooperation, he said both countries had expanded their bilateral currency swap arrangement to facilitate transactions in ringgit and yen.
According to Anwar, Malaysia and Japan agreed to extend four MOCs on maritime safety and security, environment and sustainability, solid waste management, and medical device regulatory frameworks.
The two countries also agreed to two letters of intent on energy security and energy transition, as well as academic exchanges between the University of Tokyo and the International Islamic University Malaysia.
