Zahid arrives in Turkiye for 4-day working visit [WATCH]

ISTANBUL: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has arrived in Turkiye for a four-day working visit ahead of the 2026 TRT World Forum, which opens at the Istanbul Congress Centre tomorrow.

Zahid, his wife Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis and their delegation landed at Istanbul International Airport about 3.30am local time (8.30am Malaysian time).

They were received by Malaysian Ambassador to Turkiye Adlan Mohd Shaffieq.

Zahid will first chair a pre-council meeting with officials of the mission and Malaysia delegations to finalise preparations for the visit.

Tomorrow morning, he will receive a courtesy call from Turkish Higher Education Council President Prof Dr Erol Ozvar, before attending the forum's opening ceremony, which will be officiated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He will also speak at a session titled "Turkiye: From Regional Power to Multi-Regional Actor".

On Saturday, he will deliver a lecture at the Ibn Haldun University and attend an engagement session with the think tank, Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research, to discuss current geopolitical and geoeconomic issues.

Zahid is also scheduled to meet Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri.

He is then expected to witness the signing of Letters of Collaboration between Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and Sabanci University and Yildiz Technical University.

The event will also be attended by 17 Mara-sponsored students currently studying in Turkiye.

Malaysia and Turkiye established diplomatic relations on June 17, 1964, and have since maintained close ties in politics, the economy, trade and education.

Malaysia is one of Turkiye's largest trading partners in Southeast Asia.

Bilateral trade stands at $5.6 billion, and both countries aim to raise it to US$10 billion by 2030 following an agreement between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Erdogan in January.