History History

Malaysia-Belgium Bilateral Relations

Diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Belgium were established in 1957, the year of Malaysia's independence. Bilateral relations were further cemented in 1975 with the establishment of the Embassy of Malaysia in Brussels and the appointment of Ambassador Peter Stephen Lai as the first Ambassador of Malaysia to Belgium. The Ambassadors of Malaysia to Belgium are as follows:

  1. Ambassador Peter Stephen Lai, (16.06.75 – 30.06.76)
  2. YBhg. Dato’ P. G. Lim (Lim Phaik Gan, (18.02.77 – 27.09.79)
  3. Ambassador  Kassim Bin Hussein, (15.09.80 – 03.02.83)
  4. YBhg. Dato’ Mustapha Dato’ Mahmud, (26.03.83 – 25.11.86)
  5. YBhg. Dato’ Noor Adlan Yahayaudin, (19.02.86 – 02.01.90)
  6. YBhg. Dato' Dali Mahmud Hashim, (08.03.90 – 17.10.93)
  7. YBhg. Dato’ M. M. Sathiah @ Renji Sathiah, (23.12.93 – 14.05.99)
  8. YBhg. Dato’ Mohd Ridzam Deva Abdullah, (18.08.99 – 25.07.05)
  9. YBhg. Dato' Mohammad Kamal Yan Yahaya, (21.12.05 – 27.07.08)
  10. YBhg.  Dato’ Hussein Haniff, (24.08.08 – 30.03.2011)
  11. YBhg. Dato' Zainuddin Yahya (23.09.2011 - 15.01.2015)
  12. YBhg. Dato' Nafisah Mohamed (23.01.2015 - 03.06.2016)
  13. YBhg. Dato' Hasnudin Hamzah (18.08.2016 - 19.08.2019)
  14. YBhg. Dato' Ahmad Rozian Abd. Ghani (01.09.2021 - 27.10.2023)
  15. YBhg. Dato' Mohd Khalid Abbasi Abdul Razak (28.10.2023 - present)

The Embassy was first located at Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, Brussels. The Embassy shifted to the current address at Avenue de Tervueren, 414A 1150 Brussels in 1982. The Embassy is concurrently accredited to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the European Union (formerly the European Communities).

Malaysia-European Union (EU) Bilateral Relations

Malaysia has a long-standing relationship with Europe. Historic links could be traced back to the 15th century when the Portuguese, Dutch and the British came to Malaysian shores in search of new colonies and trade. In modern times, Malaysia enjoys strong bilateral relations not only with individual EU member states but also with the EU as an institution. The relations date back to the formation of European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957, the precursor to the 27-member European Union today.

The establishment of the delegation office of the European Commission to Malaysia in 2003 provided the means for Malaysia and the EU to work together on issues and areas of mutual interest. Since then, dialogue and cooperation with both federal and state authorities, the Malaysian and EU business community as well as all levels of society have increased progressively.

At present, Malaysia-EU relations are largely dominated by trade and investment. The EU is currently Malaysia’s 4th largest trading partner and Malaysia is the EU’s second most important trading partner in ASEAN, after Singapore. In view of the EU’s growing global presence and influence, Malaysia is keen to deepen and widen its relations with the EU to go beyond the trade and economic issues and to forge closer cooperation in political, security, science and technology, education, culture, environment and energy issues, to name a few. Malaysia has benefited from the EU in providing a market for Malaysian goods and services, stimulating foreign investment, transfer of new technology and setting future standards, while the EU benefits from Malaysia's strategic position to access broader regional markets, enhanced economic security through diversified supply chains, and access to world's largest free trade zones via its RCEP and CPTPP memberships.

Malaysia and EU have also established and continue to work together at both regional and international fora such as within the ASEAN-EU framework, Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the United Nations and World Trade Organisation. Through ASEAN, Malaysia works with the EU for closer regional cooperation. Malaysia views the EU as one of the most important players in the world today and looks forward to engage in many areas for the mutual benefit of Malaysians, the citizens of the EU, and on global matters alike.