Kuala Lumpur: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the commitment between Putrajaya and Washington to strengthen their Comprehensive Partnership and advance mutual objectives.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim met with Blinken on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th Asean Summits in Vientiane on Thursday.
During their discussions, both men emphasised the significance of the US-Malaysia Comprehensive Partnership as it celebrates its 10th anniversary, pledging to enhance ties in people-to-people connections, economics and security.
In a post on X Friday, Blinken expressed gratitude to Anwar for his leadership, saying, “As a democratic leader in South-east Asia, Malaysia plays a key role in promoting regional stability and prosperity.”
This follows Blinken’s support for Malaysia’s upcoming Asean Chair year, where he highlighted opportunities to bolster cooperation for regional stability in a free, open, secure, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
During the same meeting, Blinken informed Anwar of a proposed US$14.7 billion investment (RM63 billion) from several US technology firms, including Google, Microsoft, Enovix Corporation, Amazon Web Services, Abbott Laboratories and Boeing.
Furthermore, both underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, increased humanitarian assistance, and the initiation of reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Malaysia remains firm in its stance to continue emphasising the violence perpetrated by the Zionist regime against Palestine and also to continue demanding justice for the Palestinian people on international platforms.
Anwar stated that he undertook the task when meeting world leaders at the 44th and 45th Asean Summits and Related Summits, to ensure that this message was conveyed clearly.
“We have to be firm in our stance, they cannot say they don’t understand or did not hear. Millions of people, young and old, in numerous cities, have spoken about the atrocity (committed by Israel against Palestine) occurring since 1947, 1948.
“We must continue to carry out this task, to voice out the aspirations of the Palestinian people’s rights fairly,” he told the Malaysian media on the last day of the summits, Friday.
The Prime Minister said Malaysia also condemned the Israeli attack on Gaza which has now spread to Lebanon, which he conveyed during his meetings with all the leaders involved, including United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Anwar also stressed that there should be no exceptions to any violations of international law against any country, as is currently happening with impunity.
