March 12, 2024
KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Monday (March 11) meets German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to discuss bilateral ties between the two nations.
Anwar arrived here Sunday for his six-day visit to Germany and was received by Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace, which houses the President’s Office, at about 2pm (9pm Malaysian time).
The premier signed the guest book before proceeding to meet with the President.
It was the second meeting between the two Leaders within one year, as the German President undertook a three-day State visit to Malaysia in February last year.
After the Putrajaya meeting, Anwar said Malaysia looked forward to working with Germany on biodiversity, ecology, and climate change.
Steinmeier, who had also visited Penang and Sarawak, told his host that Malaysia would be an important location for German companies to diversify their businesses and investments.
According to him, over 700 German companies are based in Malaysia, creating 65,000 jobs, and there are opportunities for them to diversify and supply their markets in the region.
Since 2000, the third-largest economy in the world has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner among European Union member countries, while Malaysia is Germany’s largest trading partner among Asean member states.
In 2023, Malaysia’s total trade with Germany increased by 5.9% to RM63.45bil (US$13.90bil) compared to RM59.87bil (US$13.62 bil) in 2022. – Bernama