Press Releases
Japan-Malaysia Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
On May 19, commencing at around 4:10 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. The overview is as follows.
1. At the outset, Minister Motegi congratulated Minister Hishammuddin on his appointment as foreign minister and expressed his intention to work with the new administration to continue to strengthen the strategic partnership between Japan and Malaysia, on the basis of the “Look East Policy (PDF)
”.
2. The two ministers affirmed the continued importance of international cooperation for responding to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Minister Motegi explained Japan’s assistance to Malaysia in relation to COVID-19 (provision of technical and medical supplies and Avigan tablets), and expressed his gratitude for Malaysia’s support for the repatriation of Japanese nationals from third countries. Minister Motegi also requested Malaysia’s cooperation for the stable supply of medical equipment. In response, Minister Hishammuddin expressed his gratitude for Japan’s assistance and stated that Malaysia would continue to work closely with Japan to support the repatriation of their respective citizens. The two ministers also confirmed that they will continue to promote bilateral cooperation.
3. Minister Motegi expressed his intention to promote various bilateral dialogues and people-to-people exchanges once the situation subsides, and stated that he is particularly looking forward to the discussions at the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings scheduled to take place in August, as well as the APEC Ministerial Meeting to be held in Malaysia in November. Minister Hishammuddin replied that he also intends to strengthen the Japan-Malaysia relationship, and the two ministers shared the view to further develop bilateral relations.