RIYADH: The inaugural Saudi-Malaysian Coordination Council (SMCC) meeting held here Tuesday reaffirmed the strong relationship between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
It was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, at the Saudi Foreign Ministry's central office here.
The SMCC is a bilateral mechanism established to promote cooperation and act as the coordinating body between the two countries on eight key areas, namely political, security, defence, military, trade and investment, energy and environment, Islamic affairs, education and socio-cultural.
Malaysian Foreign Ministry in a statement said during the meeting, Mohamad reiterated Malaysia's dedication to enhancing ties with Saudi Arabia, emphasising the importance of collaboration in key areas such as economic cooperation, energy and renewable energy, education, Haj matters, connectivity, tourism, defence, agriculture, and food security.
Mohamad expressed optimism that the establishment of the SMCC would further strengthen these ties and expand the scope of bilateral cooperation.
The next SMCC meeting is scheduled to take place next year in Malaysia, further solidifying the commitment of both nations to advancing their long-standing partnership, the statement read.
Separately, the ministry said the two leaders also exchanged views on pressing regional matters, including the situations in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.
On Palestine, Malaysia continues to align its position with Saudi Arabia's call for an immediate ceasefire and underscored the need for a just and lasting solution based on United Nations resolutions and international law, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, on the issue of Syria, the ministry said both Foreign Ministers expressed hope for a durable political solution to end the ongoing conflict and emphasised the importance of restoring normalcy for the benefit of the Syrian people.
The meeting also reflected Malaysia's unequivocal and unwavering support and commitment to fostering a robust partnership with Saudi Arabia, as well as working together to address regional challenges collectively.
Malaysia and Saudi Arabia also solidified their bilateral relations further with the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) today after the meeting.
Malaysia is Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner among Asean Member States and the 7th largest globally.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia was Malaysia's largest trading partner in the Middle East, with total trade valued at RM50.52 billion (US$11.06 billion).
For the first eight months of 2024, total bilateral trade was valued at RM30.09 billion (US$6.43 billion). - Bernama