PM, Egypt president hold talks on elevating ties to strategic partnership

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held a four-eyed meeting with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Seri Perdana Complex here today, marking a significant step towards elevating Malaysia-Egypt relations to a strategic partnership after more than six decades of diplomatic ties.

The meeting, held in conjunction with El-Sisi’s two-day state visit to Malaysia, provided an opportunity for both leaders to review bilateral cooperation, explore new areas of collaboration and exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.

El-Sisi, who is on his first state visit to Malaysia since assuming office in June 2014, is here for a series of official engagements aimed at strengthening political, economic and diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Anwar and El-Sisi are scheduled to lead bilateral discussions involving delegations from both countries, focusing on expanding cooperation in key sectors, particularly trade, investment and economic development.

A key highlight of the engagements is the proposed elevation of bilateral relations to that of a Strategic Partnership, reflecting the shared commitment of Malaysia and Egypt to advancing cooperation to a higher level.

Both leaders were also scheduled to witness the exchange of memoranda of understanding (MoUs), aimed at further strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

A joint press conference is scheduled to follow the bilateral discussions, during which Anwar and El-Sisi were expected to outline the outcomes of their engagements and the future direction of Malaysia-Egypt relations.

The high-level engagement comes amid growing economic ties between Malaysia and Egypt, with bilateral trade surging 74.7% to RM3.49 billion in the first eight months of 2026.

The figure has already exceeded the RM3.08 billion recorded for the whole of 2025, highlighting the expanding trade relationship and growing economic potential between the two countries.

In 2025, Egypt was Malaysia’s seventh-largest trading partner in Africa, with Malaysian exports valued at RM2.55 billion, while imports amounted to RM530 million.

Malaysia and Egypt established diplomatic relations in 1959 and have maintained longstanding cooperation in various fields, including education, trade and investment, alongside close engagement on regional and international platforms.

El-Sisi’s state visit, undertaken at the invitation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, is expected to open a new chapter in bilateral relations and provide fresh momentum for stronger strategic and economic cooperation between the two nations.

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