KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says Malaysia hopes to work with Egypt towards full membership in BRICS.
A joint statement with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said both leaders welcomed Malaysia's endorsement by BRICS leaders as a partner country in the grouping during its summit in Kazan on Oct 23.
"Malaysia hopes to work closely with Egypt and other BRICS members towards its full membership in BRICS and to advance the Global South Agenda," the statement said.
Malaysia and 12 other nations were officially added as partner countries to BRICS, a block that controls a fifth of global trade and rivals G7 as a grouping of influential nations.
It was a move that one academician said would present significant economic opportunities, opening doors to trade, investment, and cooperation with the world's largest emerging markets, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
On Asean, Malaysia acknowledged Egypt's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2016 and has been demonstrating the desire to
advance its relations with the regional bloc to further promote peace, stability and cooperation with member states.
"As the chair of Asean 2025, Malaysia expressed its readiness to work closely with Egypt to promote Asean-Egypt relations. Malaysia also encouraged Egypt to advance its engagement with Asean, through its important role as well as the founding member of the African Union," read the statement.