Japan PM Ishiba Meets Malaysian PM Anwar; Agree on Stable LNG Supply

(Central News Agency, Tokyo, June 10, Combined Foreign Reports) Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. In light of the unstable situation in the Middle East, the two leaders agreed on the stable supply of resources such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Malaysia and cooperation in the field of energy security. Japan imports approximately 15% of its LNG from Malaysia, and urea is a raw material for fertilizer.

In the field of economic security, the two sides expressed concern over China's arbitrary export controls and agreed to strengthen the supply chain for important minerals such as rare earths, as well as to further enhance cooperation related to artificial intelligence (AI).

To realize Japan's vision of a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' (FOIP), the two sides pledged to cooperate in the field of maritime security. The summit also confirmed the continuation of joint training between the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Malaysian military, as well as the continuation of Japan's 'Official Security Assistance' (OSA) framework to support the militaries of like-minded countries.

Prime Minister Ishiba and Prime Minister Anwar held a joint press conference after the meeting. Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized, 'Under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, bilateral relations have progressed in a wide range of fields, including the economy and security.' Prime Minister Anwar stated, 'The friendly relationship with Japan is extremely meaningful. Japan plays a central role in our growth, development, and industrialization process,' and expressed expectations for future cooperation. (Editor: Li Jing / Supervisor: Yang Weijing) 1150610