Uzbekistan President Concludes Official Visit to Malaysia
Bilateral Relations Strengthened
SEPANG: Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev departed for Tashkent today after concluding a two-day official visit to Malaysia, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
Farewell Ceremony Held at KLIA
A red-carpet farewell ceremony was held at the Bunga Raya Complex, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), featuring a guard of honour by the First Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir was present to bid farewell to Mirziyoyev and his delegation. Their Uzbekistan Airways flight departed from KLIA at 8.50 pm.
Commitment to Combat Corruption and Enhance Cooperation
Earlier, Malaysia and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their commitment to combating corruption while enhancing cooperation in education, tourism, and other key sectors.
Exchange Programmes and Tourism Initiatives
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev have agreed to establish exchange programmes between higher education institutions and research institutes to cultivate people-to-people ties and mutual understanding between the two nations.
In a joint statement today, both leaders also pledged to leverage Malaysia’s Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign and explore opportunities in Islamic and halal tourism.
This includes promoting the Umrah+ programme, to promote Malaysia and Uzbekistan as pre- and post-pilgrimage destinations for visitors from both countries.
Connectivity and Trade
To improve connectivity, they agreed to optimise the direct Kuala Lumpur-Tashkent flight operated by Uzbekistan Airways and Batik Air Malaysia.
In 2024, Malaysia’s total trade with Uzbekistan stood at RM369.8 million (USD80.9 million), reflecting a 13.2 percent decline from RM426.1 million (USD94 million) in 2023. The trade balance is in Malaysia’s favour at RM360.3 million (USD78.9 million).
Bilateral Documents Signed
Anwar and Mirziyoyev also witnessed the exchange of seven bilateral documents covering cooperation in customs, academic-diplomatic collaboration, health, forensic sciences, culture, higher education, and the halal industry.
Conclusion
The official visit of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Malaysia has strengthened bilateral relations between the two nations. The agreements and initiatives signed during the visit are expected to drive cooperation in various sectors, including education, tourism, and trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the purpose of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Malaysia?
A: The visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Malaysia and Uzbekistan.
Q: What were the key agreements signed during the visit?
A: The agreements included exchange programmes between higher education institutions and research institutes, promotion of Islamic and halal tourism, and cooperation in customs, academic-diplomatic collaboration, health, forensic sciences, culture, higher education, and the halal industry.
Q: What is the current trade balance between Malaysia and Uzbekistan?
A: The trade balance is in Malaysia’s favour, with a total trade value of RM360.3 million (USD78.9 million) in 2024.