Joint Statement

by the Prime Minister of Malaysia

and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand

on the occasion of

the Official Visit of Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand to Malaysia,

9 - 10 July 2026 

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Introduction

At the invitation of the Honourable Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, His Excellency Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, paid an official visit to Malaysia from 9 - 10 July 2026. During the visit, the two Prime Ministers held a bilateral meeting in a warm and cordial atmosphere.

Both Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction with the longstanding ties of friendship, cooperation, and good neighbourliness between Malaysia and Thailand, and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, both at the bilateral level and within ASEAN, for the shared prosperity and advancement of both countries and the region.

Both Prime Ministers emphasised the importance of strengthening and deepening cooperation in the following key areas;

1. Overview of bilateral relations

Both sides looked forward to the 16th Meeting of the Thailand-Malaysia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JC), and the 7th Ministerial Meeting on the Joint Development Strategy for Border Areas (JDS) to be hosted by Thailand.

Both sides agreed to convene the 8th Annual Consultation between the two Prime Ministers in Thailand in 2027 at a mutually convenient date to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Malaysia and Thailand.

2. Border Development

Both sides recognised the immense economic potential of the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand and Northern States of Malaysia and will increase cooperation in all areas in order to promote development and uplift the livelihoods in these border areas between the two countries.

Both sides reaffirmed the shared commitment to promote multi-modal connectivity linking the two countries in order to further facilitate cross-border trade and movement of goods and peoples.

Both sides welcomed the completion of the road alignment linking the new CIQ Sadao - ICQS Bukit Kayu Hitam, which the two Prime Ministers will preside over the official opening ceremony on 10 July 2026.  

Both sides welcomed the continued cooperation towards connecting the double-track railway along the Ipoh - Padang Besar - Hat Yai corridor to enhance cross-border rail connectivity.

Both sides welcomed the full operationalisation of the Perlis Inland Port (PIP) and agreed to continue coordinating on operational matters, including facilitating cross-border freight movement, customs and quarantine procedures, and other border facilitation measures, with a view to enhancing logistics efficiency along the border areas.

Both sides welcomed the progress on the project of the 2nd Su-ngai Kolok - Rantau Panjang Bridge. They also welcomed the work in progress to revive the Rantau Panjang - Su-ngai Golok railway services and agreed to continue discussions towards its implementation.

Both sides welcomed the plan to revive the cross-border ferry service between Satun Province and Kuala Perlis, Perlis.

Both sides welcomed the plan to convene the Inaugural Meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on Bilateral Cooperation on Transport (JMC) to be hosted by Malaysia in 2026, which will ensure closer coordination on all connectivity projects between the two countries.

3. Political and Security Cooperation

Both sides agreed to strengthen efforts in border management and cooperation in combatting transnational organised crimes, including online scams, human trafficking, drug trafficking, as well as wildlife and timber trafficking.

Both Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening environmental cooperation, particularly in addressing transboundary issues such as mitigating haze pollution, preventing open burning, and conserving shared biodiversity along the border areas.

Both sides welcomed the robust and close partnership in defence and security cooperation between Thailand and Malaysia, and noted with satisfaction the progress under relevant bilateral mechanisms, such as the General Border Committee (GBC), the High-Level Committee (HLC), and the Regional Border Committee (RBC).

Both sides agreed to strengthen further security and defence cooperation through regular exchanges of visits and exercises. Both sides welcomed the establishment of a joint working group to coordinate on the Golok security barrier projects under the Regional Border Committee (RBC).

Both sides agreed to intensify coordination between the Office of National Water Resources of Thailand and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation of Malaysia on technical cooperation to support the forecasting and monitoring for flood management in the border areas.

Both sides discussed the latest developments in the Southern Border Provinces (SBPs) of Thailand and pledged continued support for the Peace Dialogue Process in the SBPs, which aims at achieving lasting peace, security and prosperity in the SBPs. The Prime Minister of Thailand expressed appreciation to the Prime Minister of Malaysia for Malaysia's sincere and constructive role in facilitating the Process.

Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation to prevent acts of violence and bring perpetrators to justice.

4. Economic Partnership

Both sides welcomed the growing bilateral trade and investment, and pledged to enhance cooperation to achieve the bilateral trade target of USD 30 billion by 2027.

Both sides looked forward to the early convening of the 4th Joint Trade Committee to be hosted by Thailand.

Both sides welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation today, which marks a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral relations and provides a comprehensive framework to deepen collaboration in agriculture, food security, research and innovation, capacity building and sustainable agricultural development for the mutual benefit of both countries. Both sides also welcomed the close cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia in order to enhance partnership for food security.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen partnership and integrated value chains, leveraging the comparative strengths of each country, in the areas of energy security and green economy, climate action, digital economy and high-tech industries, food security and Halal industries.

5. Socio-Cultural Cooperation

Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation to promote two-way tourism through better transportation links by road, rail, air and sea.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in education, including technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and other mutually agreed areas of interest, with a view to promoting sustainable human capital development in both countries.

6. Pending Agreements

Both sides looked forward to the early conclusion of the MOUs on Cross Border Transport of Goods and Passengers; the MOU on Labour Cooperation; the MOU on Defence Cooperation, the MOU on Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) of the Golok River, and the MOU on Cooperation in the field of Education. 

7. Regional and Global Developments

The Two Prime Ministers exchanged views on global and regional developments and reaffirmed their shared commitment to ASEAN’s unity and centrality in promoting peace, stability and development in the region.

The Prime Minister of Thailand expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Government of Malaysia for the warm hospitality and extended a cordial invitation to the Prime Minister of Malaysia to visit to Thailand at a mutually convenient date. 

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WORKING VISIT OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, EUROPEAN AFFAIRS AND DEVELOPMENT

COOPERATION OF BELGIUM TO MALAYSIA

2-3 JULY 2026

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation of Belgium Maxime Prévot will undertake a Working Visit to Malaysia on 2 and 3 July 2026. This will be his first visit to Malaysia since assuming office in February 2025.

During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot is scheduled to meet Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Haji Yusof on 2 July 2026. During the meeting, both sides will review the current state of Malaysia–Belgium relations and explore new avenues of cooperation, particularly in renewable energy, rare earth elements and halal cooperation. Discussions will also cover Malaysia–European Union relations, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest.

Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot will also deliver a ministerial address at the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable organised by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia and is expected to have an audience with Sultan of Perak His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

In 2025, total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Belgium amounted to RM9.74 billion, with Malaysian exports valued at RM6.85 billion and imports at RM2.89 billion. As of 2025, a total of 67 projects with Belgian participation had been approved, representing RM5.1 billion in investments and with the potential creation of 4,605 jobs.

 

PUTRAJAYA

1 July 2026

JOINT STATEMENT

BETWEEN MALAYSIA AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH

ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL VISIT BY

HIS EXCELLENCY TARIQUE RAHMAN, PRIME MINISTER OF THE PEOPLE’S

REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH TO MALAYSIA

22 JUNE 2026 

 

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, His Excellency Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, His Excellency Tarique Rahman, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, undertook an official visit to Malaysia on 22 June 2026.

2. This visit marked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first official visit abroad and to Malaysia since assuming office on 17 February 2026. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972, Malaysia and Bangladesh have reached significant milestones in the longstanding partnership between the two countries, anchored in mutual respect, shared values, and common aspirations for regional peace and prosperity.

3. During the visit, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was accorded an official welcoming ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex, Putrajaya. The Leaders then held an official bilateral meeting to discuss Malaysia-Bangladesh relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Both Leaders expressed strong commitment to take the bilateral relations between Malaysia and Bangladesh to further new heights. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also hosted an official luncheon in honour of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. They witnessed the exchange of several bilateral documents aimed at further enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

4. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim congratulated His Excellency Tarique Rahman on his appointment as the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh as this marks a new chapter for the Bangladesh people with hopes of peace, stability and progress.

Political Cooperation

5. The Leaders agreed that regular dialogue and exchanges including high-level visits, have strengthened coordination across various areas of bilateral cooperation, including labour cooperation. They highlighted the importance of sustaining engagement on bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

6. The Leaders acknowledged the importance of regular dialogue through existing bilateral institutional mechanisms and in this regard agreed to resume the long-pending Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) as well as the Bilateral Consultations (BC) at the earliest opportunity.

Trade and Investment Cooperation

7. Both Leaders acknowledged the significance of bilateral trade and investment relations, noting that Bangladesh remains Malaysia's second-largest trading partner in South Asia. The Leaders expressed their commitment to further strengthening economic cooperation and facilitating two-way trade and investment.

8. The Leaders welcomed the progress made towards the commencement of negotiations on the Malaysia-Bangladesh Free Trade Agreement (MBFTA). Both sides expressed their commitment to advancing the negotiations with a view to concluding the Agreement in 2027 for a mutually beneficial, comprehensive and forward-looking agreement that reflects current global trading practices.

9. The two Prime Ministers welcomed the progress made in the establishment of the Malaysia-Bangladesh Joint Business Council (JBC), which will serve as the key bilateral institutional mechanism for structured dialogue and the exchange of ideas to facilitate active collaboration between the private sectors of the two countries, thereby expanding bilateral economic, trade and investment ties.

10. Stressing the importance of enhancing trade, investment and sustainable economic partnership, the Leaders encouraged greater collaboration across priority sectors including telecommunications, energy, infrastructure (e.g, roads, bridges, elevated expressways and digital public infrastructure), ports and logistics, halal industry, agro-processing, education and skills development, digital economy, semiconductor, smart manufacturing and other high-value across industries.

11. The Leaders further encouraged closer cooperation between relevant government agencies, investment promotion agencies, industry players and business communities of both countries through investment facilitation, technical cooperation, capacity building, technology transfer, talent development, business matching and strategic partnerships, aiming to foster industrial upgrading, strengthen regional and global value chain participation, and create mutually beneficial investment opportunities for both nations.

Halal Industry

12. The Leaders acknowledged the significant commercial potential of the global Islamic economy. Recognising Malaysia’s expertise and extensive experience in the development of the halal ecosystem, they agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in support of Bangladesh’s development in its halal sector.

13. They acknowledged the Exchange of Notes on Cooperation in the Field of Halal Ecosystem and welcomed ongoing collaboration between the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the relevant regulatory authorities of Bangladesh. They reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance cooperation in areas including halal certification the development of regulatory frameworks, capacity building and training of professionals’ research and innovation, as well as institutional strengthening.

Digital Economy, AI and Semiconductor

14. Both Leaders recognized the growing importance of digital transformation as a driver of economic growth and competitiveness and agreed to strengthen cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the digital economy, fintech, digital governance, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies. In this regard, they welcomed enhanced collaboration and closer engagement among government agencies, research institutions, universities, and private-sector stakeholders of the two countries. The Leaders also agreed to promote capacity building and knowledge sharing, leveraging Malaysia’s expertise in digital development, and encouraged greater Malaysian investment in Bangladesh’s digital economy, including in digital public infrastructure, technology parks, and special economic zones.

15. Recognizing Malaysia’s established global footprint in semiconductor packaging, testing, and outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) services, the Leaders agreed to bridge this mature ecosystem with Bangladesh’s rapidly expanding IT and engineering sector. Bangladesh proposed a bilateral talent cooperation framework under which both countries would jointly develop and systematically upskill Bangladeshi engineering graduates through structured programs, including exchange of experts and sharing of best practices. Such cooperation can contribute to supply chain resilience and regional co-operation in the semiconductor industry.

Labour Cooperation

16. The Leaders recognised the importance of people-to-people connectivity and welcomed the contribution of Bangladeshi workers to the development of Malaysia. They further noted that the Bangladeshi expatriate community plays a part in fostering bilateral exchanges and shared economic activities between Malaysia and Bangladesh. 

17. FINAL Malaysia acknowledged Bangladesh’s proposal regarding the recruitment of workers. In line with Malaysia’s current policy on foreign labour intake, both sides recognised that approvals for new foreign worker quotas are currently evaluated strictly on a case-by-case basis, contingent upon verified employer requirements and sectoral ceilings. For any such approved quotas, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the recruitment process is transparent, fair, non-discriminatory, and competitive, utilising only credible and qualified recruitment agencies.

18. Both countries have agreed to convene the Joint Working Group (JWG) to ensure the continued, safe, and mutually beneficial migration of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia. The meeting will focus on evaluating the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and laying the groundwork to draft a new, updated MoU that meets the current needs of both nations.

Education and Tourism Cooperation

19. Recognising the presence of around 11,000 Bangladeshi students in Malaysia, and their positive contribution to academic exchange and socio-economic linkages between Bangladesh and Malaysia, as well as the value they bring upon returning to Bangladesh, both Leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of education, including through University-to-University partnerships and joint research programs, focusing on technical and vocational education (TVET).

20. Both sides emphasised on expanding mutually recognised qualifications, joint degree programmes and flexible learning pathways. The Leaders also stressed on the importance of aligning academic programmes with labour market needs and priority sectors in both countries, with particular focus on graduate mobility and skills development.

21. Both Leaders expressed optimism in expanding tourism cooperation, particularly in light of Malaysia’s “Visit Malaysia 2026” (VM2026) and “Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026” (MYMT2026) campaigns. Malaysia extended a warm welcome to Bangladeshi travellers, and the leaders agreed to enhance tourism promotion and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Energy Cooperation

22. Both sides recognised the importance of strengthening cooperation in the energy sector as a key pillar of bilateral economic relations. Both sides emphasize the importance of fully leveraging the agreed MoU between the Government of Bangladesh and the Government of Malaysia on co-operation in the field of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Supply, LNG Infrastructure, Petroleum Products, and its infrastructure for direct bilateral LNG discussion between PETRONAS and PetroBangla.

23. Bangladesh side invited Malaysian companies to invest in Bangladesh’s energy sector, including in exploration of oil and gas in the Bay of Bengal, extraction of untapped minerals like coal, limestone, including renewable energy transition. Both sides also encouraged cooperation between relevant national energy companies and private sector stakeholders. to promote long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships that contribute to energy security, sustainability, and economic development in both countries.

Defence and Security Cooperation

24. The Leaders commended the excellent, longstanding ties in defence cooperation, anchored by regular high-level military visits, personnel training programs, and goodwill naval port calls. Both Leaders committed to fully operationalizing the MoU on Defence Cooperation to broaden strategic collaboration in military science, technical expertise, and defence industry partnerships. They looked forward to the convening of the bilateral Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC) to chart a structured defence roadmap.

25. Both Leaders underscored the importance of enhancing defence capacity and capability through courses and training programmes, including mutual seat allocations at their respective National Defence Colleges and Command and Staff Colleges. They further reaffirmed their commitment to supporting United Nations peacekeeping operations through joint tactical exercises, pre-deployment training collaboration, and the exchange of expertise and knowledge to address an increasingly complex global security environment.

26. Both Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in preventing and combating terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations through intelligence sharing, information exchange, capacity-building initiatives, training programmes, and the sharing of best practices.

Regional and Multilateral Cooperation

27. Both Leaders expressed concerns over the prolonged Rohingya crisis. Malaysia commended Bangladesh’s humanitarian endeavour in hosting the forcibly displaced Rohingyas and reaffirmed its solidarity with Bangladesh. Malaysia reiterated its commitment to support efforts aimed at achieving a lasting resolution of the crisis which lies in the safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation of the displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar. Bangladesh expressed appreciation for Malaysia's continued support and principled advocacy on the Rohingya issue at the bilateral, regional, and international platforms, including within ASEAN, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the United Nations, and other multilateral forums.

28. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reiterated Bangladesh’s strong desire to formalize its engagement with ASEAN by pursuing ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner status. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed Bangladesh’s interest and expressed Malaysia's readiness to constructively support Dhaka’s aspirations within the ASEAN framework.

29. The Malaysian side expressed its support for Bangladesh’s aspiration to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), recognizing its growing economic significance and strategic role in the region. Both Leaders noted that Bangladesh’s future participation would strengthen regional economic integration, trade, investment, and supply chains. The Bangladeshi side expressed its appreciation for Malaysia’s support and reaffirmed its commitment to undertaking the necessary measures towards accession to the Agreement.

30. The Leaders exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and reiterated their support for a just and lasting peace for the Palestinian people and expressed support for continued dialogue and diplomatic efforts towards a durable and comprehensive peace in the region.

31. The leaders emphasised the importance of joint efforts in addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges such as climate change, food security, human trafficking and transnational crime. Both Leaders emphasised the need to address these challenges in a holistic manner.

32. The two leaders also acknowledged the importance of coordinated actions within international organisations such as the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). They also committed to jointly supporting initiatives to strengthen the world order, justice, and compliance with international law.

33. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed deep appreciation and sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Government of Malaysia for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality extended to him and his delegation during the visit. 

 

 

JOINT STATEMENT
between Turkmenistan and Malaysia on the occasion of the official visit of the

Honourable Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim,

Prime Minister of Malaysia to Turkmenistan  

 

 

1.       His Excellency Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim, undertook an official visit to Turkmenistan on 18 -19 June 2026 at the invitation of of His Excellency Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan.

 

2.       During the visit, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace in Ashgabat. Both Leaders held substantive discussions, which took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The discussion covered a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

 

3.       The two Leaders underlined the importance of strengthening bilateral relations, which will contribute substantially to the solidification of friendship between the peoples of the two countries. Both Leaders also agreed to continue the close cooperation in various regional and international organisations.

 

4.       Recognising a shared vision, the Leaders emphasised the significance of deepening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, and acknowledged PETRONAS’ longstanding and positive, contributions in this field. In this context, the Leaders welcomed the 30^th anniversary of the partnership between Turkmenistan and PETRONAS. Both Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening a robust and enduring partnership, with a strong focus on oil and gas sector aimed at sustained growth and mutual prosperity.

 

The Leaders emphasised the strategic importance of the signing in Ashgabat Production Sharing Agreement between the State Concern “Turkmennebit”, PETRONAS Carigali (Turkmenistan) Sdn. Bhd., and the the State Enterprise “Hazarnebit” the signing of the Cooperation Agreement on Carrying Out 2D Seismic Studies between the State Concern “Turkmennebit” and PETRONAS Carigali (Turkmenistan) Sdn. Bhd. and the signing of the Confidentiality Agreement between the State Concern “Turkmengas” and PETRONAS Carigali International Ventures Sdn. Bhd., on 19 June 2026 which further reinforce collaboration in the upstream sector.

 

Additionally, the Leaders welcomed the formalisation of the Framework Agreement between the Government of Malaysia and the Government of Turkmenistan on the Long-Term Cooperation for the Development of Hydrocarbon Resources of Turkmenistan.

 

5.       In realising the full potential of bilateral relations, both Leaders recognised the need to maintain regular contacts, consultations and close coordination at various level including through the convening of the Joint Commission Meeting at a mutually convenient time in accordance with the Protocol Amending the Agreement on Economic Scientific and Technical Co-Operation between the Government of Malaysia and the Government of Turkmenistan signed on 8 November 2016. The Leaders also agreed to promote regular exchange of ideas and opinions on international issues at the margins of international meetings and conferences of the United Nations, Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation and other important international organization frameworks. The Leaders underlined the importance of UN General Assembly Resolution 79/5 adopted on 24 October 2024 entitled “Zone of peace, trust and cooperation of Central Asia” in ensuring the regional security.

 

6.       The Leaders agreed that the economic partnership between Turkmenistan and Malaysia has enormous potential. In realising the full economic potential of the two countries, both Leaders expressed readiness to develop it on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.

 

7.       Looking ahead, both Leaders emphasised the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the areas of transportation, science, technology and innovation, culture, education, tourism and sports, which will contribute positively to the strengthening of relations between Turkmenistan and Malaysia.

 

8.       Both Leaders also agreed that in the efforts to promote people-to-people contact and understanding, exchange programmes between institutions of higher education and research institutes should be further strengthened. The Leaders welcomed the signing of agreements between higher education institutions in 2026 namely, Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Construction, Turkmen State Energy Institute, Oguz han Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN).

 

9.       Both Leaders welcomed the signing of the following documents; Air Services Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of Malaysia, Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of Malaysia on the cooperation in the Field of Training for Diplomats and Scientific Exchange, Memorandum of Understanding between “Turkmenhowayollary” State Service of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Transport of Malaysia, and Memorandum of Understanding between the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the Academy of Sciences of Malaysia.

 

10.     Both Leaders welcomed the significant outcomes of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC 3) in realizing the potential of these countries for a more equitable and prosperous future, held in National Tourist Zone Avaza, Turkmenistan on 5-8 August 2025.  

 

11.     The Leaders underlined the importance of the initiatives spearheaded by both countries at the international and regional levels, including Malaysia’s successful ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, which advanced ASEAN Community-building and regional cooperation amidst an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, as well as Turkmenistan’s initiatives in promoting international peace, trust and neutrality through the International Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International Day of Neutrality and the 30th Anniversary of the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan, held on 12 December 2025.

 

12.     Both Leaders further underlined the importance of the initiatives aimed at advancing sustainable development and climate resilience including the Establishment of a Regional Center to Combat Desertification for Central Asian and the opening of the Regional Centre for Climate Change Mitigating Technologies for Central Asia under the auspices of the UN in Ashgabat. They also acknowledged the role of relevant ASEAN mechanisms and institutions in fostering regional cooperation on climate change and expressed their readiness to explore practical avenues for cooperation in the areas of climate resilience, environmental sustainability and green technologies.

13.     Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed deep appreciation and sincere gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the people of Turkmenistan for their warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to the delegation of Malaysia during their stay in Turkmenistan.

 

President of Turkmenistan	Prime Minister of Malaysia
Serdar Berdimuhamedov	Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim

 

 

Ashgabat, 19^th June 2026

 

 

“HUMANITY IN A HUMAN-MACHINE CIVILISATION”

 

PUBLIC LECTURE BY

 

THE HONOURABLE DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

 

 AT THE

 

RESEARCH CENTRE FOR

ADVANCED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (RCAST)

UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO

 

10 JUNE 2026

 

 

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

 It is a privilege to be at the University of Tokyo and at the Research Centre for Advanced Science and Technology.

For generations, this university has nurtured some of Japan’s finest minds: scholars, scientists, writers, public servants, engineers and leaders who helped shape the modern life of this nation. To speak here is therefore a great honour.

Let me begin with one of the great modern voices of Japanese poetry, Masaoka Shiki, who believed that poetry should keep faith with real life, with what the eye sees and the heart recognises.

That is a useful reminder in our own age. Machines can now produce fluent language, beautiful images and confident answers. AI can compose melodious music and simulate the human voice crooning in perfect pitch. Yet the harder task remains ours: to see clearly, to judge carefully, and to ask what becomes of human beings when our tools begin to imitate so much of human expression.

Our concern today is the human meaning of Artificial Intelligence: how we live with systems that can learn from us, speak to us, advise us and, act for us.

This is nothing new for Japan for it has asked this question for many years: in its factories and laboratories, in its long experience with robotics, and in a culture that understands the importance of authenticity and history.

Malaysia brings its own experience to this conversation. Ours is a trading nation, long accustomed to working across languages, cultures and systems. We are already part of the semiconductor supply chain, and we have set ourselves the goal of becoming an AI Nation by 2030.

And there’s the rub: Beyond the slides and presentations and the PR razzmatazz, what does “becoming an AI nation” really mean? To my mind, this question transcends borders, certainly beyond our two nations. And Asia cannot enter the age of artificial intelligence only as a market, a manufacturing base and a source of data.

We must help shape a digital civilisation worthy of humankind. The question is: What does such a civilisation entail? Mankind has been modernising at a rapid pace, employing new jargon of technology and progress with a vengeance. Yet, are we witnessing any real changes being made to the state of human affairs?

The gross inequalities of civilisation continue to persist, the dehumanisation of society moves on at an even more aggressive pace with the eruption of military conflicts and outright wars while the savagery and barbarism of certain peoples and entities not only continue but have exacerbated.

As we stand on the precipice of a massive technological paradigm shift supposedly signifying mankind’s great advancement, these stark realities continue to stare us in the face: the genocide in Gaza, the brutal massacre of school girls in Iran even as they scramble for cover, the incessant bombardment and wanton destruction of Lebanon, and the energy crisis unleashed by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

To a great extent, the bitter irony is that these atrocities are effectively enabled by the advent of the digital revolution. Particularly, the great strides of AI. Can we in good conscience make the claim that such advancements are worthy of humankind?

“The Space Between Persons”

There is no doubt that technologies have their good side as well, and we have seen how they have altered the path of civilisation: from irrigation of human settlement to the steam engine and the dynamics in speed and scale. Hence, today, a journey that once demanded planning around the day could now be fitted into the hour. That is efficiency par excellence via technology. But AI cannot be treated as a question of efficiency alone. It is becoming a powerful mediator of human intention.

Moral philosopher Watsuji Tetsurō throws light on the word ningen (人間) and postulates the imperative for “human relationality.” The two characters carry a suggestion: the person, and the space between persons. A human being is never a solitary figure standing apart from the world. We are born into relation. We are shaped by family, by community, by history, and by the affections that pass between one life and another.

Nevertheless, in today’s discourse, our focus is that space is now being entered by systems that can mimic human interaction with extraordinary ease and fluency. But that fluency can be a dangerous disguise.

 A machine may produce words of comfort without knowing grief, or draft an apology without having wronged another. It may conjure an image of beauty without having stood before the sea and witnessed the golden hour of twilight. But it will never watch a parent grow old, or feel the silence after loss.

Shakespeare gives us the deeper test in King Lear: “Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.” Undeniably, LLMs can learn what ought to be said. What they cannot do is speak from the wound, the affection or the remorse that gives human speech its moral weight. Indeed, fervent advocates of agentic AI contend that the solution to this is already on the horizon, if not already realised. That to my mind still falls within the arena of conjecture.

A human-machine civilisation must therefore be judged by more than intelligence. Indeed, it must be judged by whether human beings remain capable of care, responsibility and judgement in the presence of systems that can imitate them.

Work, Dignity and Humanity

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The first place where many people will feel AI-induced change is work. Now, while human beings have adapted to job disruptions triggered by powerful technologies before, today we are looking at an unprecedented paradigm shift. Where before it was predominantly a case of automation of manual labour, now it is about autonomous cognitive and decision-making tasks, denigrating the human role from one of origination to mere curation, and of production to mere supervision.

But ultimately, the fundamental question is: has the advent of AI taken us on a path of real advancement or caused us to double down on our imperfections and inequities? Do we want the advent of AI to fortify the excesses and wrongdoings that have been perpetrated in the name of progress and material growth? Do we continue to be blindsided by the self-referential statistics of so-called human advancement? These are not academic postulations. These questions hit us directly once we lift the mask of “technological advancement” and face the stark realities of our lived experiences.

 Indeed, AI will continue to render work more efficiently. But this comes at the price of diminishing critical thinking, eroding the life of the mind, and aggravating the loss of human compassion. Truth be told, the ruthless pursuit of efficiency, without more, may well strip away our very humanity. What would become of the espousal of traditional values such as empathy or consideration for others, which we well know as “Omoiyari”?

Let us not forget that work is also about dignity, agency and trust. If people feel that the future of work is being decided by firms they do not know, models they cannot see, and markets that move faster than public institutions, then the question becomes political as much as economic. The clichéd answer is invariably thrown back to us: It is said that this is inevitable because we cannot slow down, let alone stop, the march of modern civilization.

But to my mind, this is seeking recourse to convenient excuses because we are not prepared to face the inconvenient truth. Can we justify being preoccupied with this new obsession even as we persist to turn a blind eye to the gross social inequities and the expanding gap between the powerful and the weak? Why do we continue to accept as normal the exploitation of man by man because of technological superiority of one over the other?

Deep down, this poses an existential conundrum. Even before the AI tsunami, Nobel laureate Yasunari Kawabata warns that the unbridled pursuit of materialistic indulgence, much associated with the ascent of modernisation, could well throw humanity into “shock, trauma, psychological, and spiritual isolation.”

This is why some forms of work deserve particular care: teaching, nursing, medicine, craft, the patient work of listening to another human being. Undoubtedly, AI can assist much in this regard, but we must not allow it to impoverish the human experience.

Knowledge, Trust and Power

 Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The university reminds us of another question: knowledge. Every civilisation depends on institutions that help human beings know the world with some measure of confidence: a university, a library, a court, a newspaper, a public archive. None is perfect. But together they give society a way of testing claims, preserving memory and passing judgement across generations.

 AI enters this world with extraordinary power. But knowledge is not the same as the mere retrieval of information. Understanding is not the same as summary for, as T.S. Eliot reminds us, not only is the knowledge lost in all that information, even wisdom may be lost in all that knowledge.

It is in this sphere, that I believe universities can and must contribute to ensuring that we stay on the path towards wisdom. It cannot be overstressed that the true value of education is character building: compassion, kindness, integrity, generosity, and understanding in people, particularly the young. I truly believe that this is a universal value that readily resonates with all of us.

There is also the question of AI’s relationship with power. The systems that shape this new world require data, chips, energy, cloud infrastructure, talent and capital. These are not distributed evenly. In fact, it is clear that globally, the digital divide is widening, not shrinking. A small number of countries and corporations hold great influence over the models, platforms and standards that others must use.

Some technology companies have begun to speak in the language of civilisational mission: war, national destiny, strategic rivalry and the future of democracy. They build systems for armed forces and intelligence agencies, and their platforms increasingly help states see patterns, sort risks and make decisions under pressure.

There is no gainsaying that states have legitimate security needs, and no serious government can or should ignore the capabilities that new technologies provide. But these companies go further, contending openly that advanced software and artificial intelligence are not meant to be harnessed for altruistic purposes. On the contrary, they need to be weaponised to serve geopolitical interests.

This should certainly give us pause, for when the language of civilisational competition becomes embedded in technologies, it breeds cultural superiority and fosters greater digital divide even as we should ask what else is being embedded with it. A platform offered as a tool may begin to carry the deeper logic of dominion: who sees, who decides, who sets the terms, and who must live within them.

Malaysia does not seek isolation. We know that technology grows through exchange, and that no country can build the future alone. But we do not wish to see great-power rivalry carried into every layer of digital life. We do not want an AI order in which every platform becomes a camp, every standard becomes a flag, and every dependency becomes a silent act of alignment.

Sovereignty is not just about ownership. It is about the capacity to engage the world without being absorbed by it. It is the ability to understand the systems we use, to set the rules, to protect our people from their misuse. Above all, it is about preserving the authority and setting the accountability of public institutions over society.

Malaysia, Japan and the Human Purpose of AI

For Malaysia, AI must answer to development: raising productivity, improving public services, supporting teachers, doctors, farmers, engineers and civil servants, and helping us prepare for an ageing society before those needs overwhelm us. We must resist treating AI policy as a race measured only by speed, efficiency, and scale. The better ambition is capability: talent, infrastructure, data governance and the confidence to decide where AI should be used, where it should be limited, and where human judgement must remain paramount.

Artificial intelligence will continue to advance. But it does not arrive with its purposes already written. Those purposes will be shaped by human beings, by our laws, our institutions, our markets, our universities and our moral courage. The question is whether we will guide this power with wisdom before it begins to guide too much of us, or worse, before it reaches that tipping point where its capabilities and growth rate are beyond human comprehension or control, posing an existential threat to humanity.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let us be clear: We are no Luddites and we are all for embracing technological advancement. But if the machine is to enter our homes, our schools, our hospitals, our offices, our public institutions and even our imagination, then the challenge will indeed be formidable.

 The work before us is clear. We must build systems that serve human beings to enrich our humanity, not debase it, institutions that remain answerable to them, and societies that remember what no machine can inherit on our behalf: conscience, responsibility, integrity, and care for one another.

Thank you.