• Japan PM and Malaysia PM agree to work closely together

Arab News Japan

Japan Prime Minister, KISHIDA Fumio, recently held a summit telephone talk with His Excellency Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, Prime Minister of Malaysia, wherein they discussed Russia’s aggression against Ukraine while also opposing any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force.

Prime Minister Kishida stated that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a clear violation of international law and an act that shakes the foundations of the international order including in Asia and opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force.

In response, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri stated that Malaysia is seriously concerned about the escalation of conflict in Ukraine and that all efforts must be accelerated for a peaceful settlement to prevent further deterioration, as well as that Malaysia opposes invasion of any country and voted in favor of the related UN General Assembly resolutions.

The two leaders confirmed that they would continue to work closely together.

Prime Minister Kishida expressed that maintaining and strengthening free and open international order based on the rule of law has become even more important and that he would like to strengthen cooperation to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” and the “ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific.”

In response, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri expressed that he continues to value cooperation with Japan.

The two leaders exchanged views on regional issues such as the East and South China Seas, North Korea and Myanmar and global issues such as a “world without nuclear weapons,” and concurred on continuing to work closely together.

The two leaders also concurred that they would further strengthen the bilateral relations, taking opportunities of this year’s 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 40th anniversary of the Look East Policy.