By Neo Bodumela
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – South Africa and Malaysia are poised to “revive and reposition” relations with a view of deepening ties and expanding trade between the two countries.
This is the word from President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was delivering opening remarks at the Official Talks between South Africa and Malaysia at the official residence of Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Seri Perdana in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
The President is on a Working Visit to the country as part of a three-nation visit to the Southeast Asia region, which included State Visits to Indonesia and Vietnam.
“The visit that we are undertaking today here is quite an important one and, for us, quite historic because our contact both at trade level and investment level tapered down over the years. [However] today due to your insistence…you have insisted that we should recalibrate our relationship and we should reboot it, revive and reposition it.
“For me...it should be very much based on how we should deal with each other on trade, on investment and on support for each other on diplomatic matters internationally and otherwise,” the President said.
He noted that with South Africa’s expertise in areas like food production and Malaysia’s proficiency in technological advancements mean that the relationship is mutually beneficial.
“We have learnt a lot from Malaysia. We have learnt from your best practice in many ways. This visit builds on many years of cooperation.
“Of particular interest to our countries, the position that Malaysia occupies as a leading global hub on a number of fronts…semi-conductors, technology and AI as well as areas like food products.
“We do believe that those are areas that we can cooperate in. This, in many ways, provides Malaysia and South Africa with a mutually beneficial opportunity to base our relationship on substantive issues that solidify our goals,”
The President has invited Malaysia to participate at the G20 Leaders' Summit, to be hosted by South Africa in November 2025.
“Your participation in the G20 is going to lift that summit. We are ready to receive up to 60 Heads of State, and we are delighted that you will be amongst the leaders that we will be having,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
