ANKARA, Sept 28 – Malaysia, acting as ASEAN’s Country Coordinator for Türkiye, is prepared to work closely with Ankara to finalise the ASEAN-Türkiye Plan of Action by the middle of next year, Malaysian Ambassador to Türkiye Adlan Mohd Shaffieq announced.

The upcoming framework follows Türkiye’s official elevation as ASEAN’s 12th Dialogue Partner—the first from the Middle East—which provides a structured mechanism to expand bilateral and regional cooperation across Southeast Asia.

Speaking at a Malaysia Day reception in Türkiye on Friday, Adlan emphasized that ties between the two nations are “rooted in history, faith, cultural understanding, and a shared outlook of the world,” noting that bilateral relations have expanded rapidly through high-level diplomatic exchanges.

According to a statement from the Malaysian Embassy in Ankara, both nations are actively working to broaden economic and technical collaboration in high-growth sectors, including semiconductors, the halal industry, digital economy, artificial intelligence, Islamic finance, renewable energy, and infrastructure, alongside deepening defence partnerships.

At the bilateral economic level, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan agreed in January to boost two-way trade from US$5.6 billion last year to US$10 billion over the next five years.

The embassy also highlighted educational and cultural exchanges as vital pillars of the relationship, with expanded university collaborations, academic mobility, and growing bilateral tourism. Malaysia expects approximately 60,000 Turkish visitors this year, while over 100,000 Malaysians travel to Türkiye annually.

The reception was attended by Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler as guest of honour, featuring Sarawak cultural performances, traditional Turkish folk dances, and authentic Malaysian cuisine.

-NMT

Tags: Malaysia Turkiye