KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, have expressed commitment to strengthen bilateral ties under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
He said this was among the contents of discussion during a phone call with Albanese today.
Anwar said this was the first time he had communicated with the Australian prime minister since entering office.
"We agreed to strengthen cooperation especially in trade, investment, education, defence and the relationship between communities.
"Malaysia and Australia have strengthened its bilateral ties through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP)," Anwar said in an update on Facebook.
He added that Australia is Malaysia's 13th biggest trade partner this year with a trade value of RM62.28 billion (US$13.76 billion).
Last year, Putrajaya and Canberra have signed a CSP with an action plan that outlines three main elements namely economic prosperity, society and technology; and also defence cooperation and regional security.
Through the CSP, the two countries will provide a chance for cooperation in new fields such as digital economy, agriculture and food security, disaster management and public health, mental health, technology, science and innovation, environment; as well as youth empowerment.