His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, Monday. His Highness the Amir was welcomed upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by Minister of Plantation and Commodities Johari Abdul Ghani; Ambassador of Qatar to Malaysia Salah bin Mohammed al-Sorour; a number of senior Malaysian government officials and members of the Qatari Embassy. His Highness the Amir is accompanied by an official delegation.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will participate in the second Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit, scheduled to commence Tuesday, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

His Highness the Amir's participation in the two summits reflects the importance Qatar places on strengthening connectivity between the GCC, Asean countries, and China across various fields. It also demonstrates Qatar's strong commitment to deepening and enhancing its partnerships with both the Gulf states and Asean member nations.

Qatar enjoys robust and growing ties with its Asian partners, which have strengthened in recent years through the state's involvement in various Asian groupings and blocs, and through its active cooperation with numerous regional and international organisations across Asia.

Qatar has successfully built strong partnerships with Asian countries not only by supporting joint projects, but also by promoting sustainable development and improving the quality of life for populations across the Asian continent.

Qatar joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of Asean during the 55th Asean Foreign Ministers' meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in August 2022. Since then, Qatar's relationship with Asean countries has gained renewed momentum, laying the foundation for expanded cooperation in various sectors and supporting regional and international peace and security efforts, as well as fostering the development of joint relations and collaboration.

Asean is a political and economic organization established on August 8, 1967, and includes 10 member states: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

Ambassador of Qatar to Malaysia Salah bin Mohammed al-Sorour affirmed that the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Malaysia reflects the depth of fraternal relations between the two countries, and enhances strategic co-operation in the fields of economy, investment and education.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency, he said that the visit will open new horizons for enhancing political coordination and regional dialogue, in a way that supports the interests of the two peoples and strengthens partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

Al-Sorour noted that His Highness the Amir's visit will focus on enhancing political coordination and the exchange of strategic visions, paving the way for broader future cooperation between the two countries across various sectors.

Ambassador of Malaysia to Qatar Mohammad Faizal Razali said that the participation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in the 1st Asean-GCC-China Economic Summit will reveal new horizons for solid cooperation that will benefit both countries and enhance stability in the region and beyond.

He said His Highness the Amir's visit to Malaysia, coinciding with the summit, will further strengthen the enduring ties between the two regions, and foster deeper cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

He considered that the upcoming summit would strengthen the bilateral partnership and establish a model for multilateral cooperation between Asean , the GCC countries, and China, through ongoing dialogue and joint efforts.

This would enable full realisation of available potential and demonstrate a constructive commitment to the international community, Razali said. Page

Malysian PM lauds Amir's efforts to secure Palestine's rights, peace

In comments to Qatar TV on the occasion of His Highness the Amir’s visit, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said: “To me what is of particular importance is the position taken by Qatar and His Highness the Amir on issues affecting the Ummah generally , on the Palestinian issue, Gaza , working hard and relentlessly to secure peace, ceasefire, recognition for Palestine. This has endeared many Muslims, including in Malaysia. More importantly how you manage your country successfully; Qatar’s spectacular success in organizing the FIFA 2022 Wold Cup is being admired by many countries.

“The visit (to Malasia) would certainly focus also on increasing trade and investment. We can use this exceptional friendship to focus on economic growth.”