The Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa’s visit to Malaysia marks a monumental moment for the cordial relationship both nations have with each other. With 65 years of diplomatic relations and the 40th Anniversary of the Look East Policy, Japan and Malaysia look to play bigger roles in the region as stability and peace can only be achieved if all parties take an interest in their surroundings.
On his first visit, the Minister met with Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Ali and International Trade Senior Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Amogn the agenda discussed includes the need to keep IndoPacific Free and Open, he said he would like to further promote cooperation with Malaysia as a strategic partner to realise a “Free and Open IndoPacific”, referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and North Korea’s launch of ballistic missiles over Japan.
Minister Hayashi spoke of the importance of deepening discussions o specific security cooperation and stated that Japan would like to deepen cooperation in areas such as maritime security including third-country training and economic security as well as cooperation in economic issues including energy and climate change, and both Ministers agreed to comprehensively develop the bilateral relations. Both also ministers agreed to work together to deal with North Korea including the nuclear and missile issues and the abduction issue.
The matter of the South China Sea was also on the agenda, with Minister HAYASHI expressing strong opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East China Sea and the South China Sea by force and explaining the importance of maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law and responding to economic coercion.
Separately, the Minister congratulated Malaysia for completing its domestic procedures and becoming a party of the CPTPP.
Finally, the Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister hoped to see the opening of the branch campus of the University of Tsukuba soon where Saifuddin expressed his expectations for the role of the branch campus and stated that he would like to continue to cooperate for its early opening. Both Ministers confirmed that they would continue to cooperate for the further development of the Look East Policy.
