Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visits Singapore for his first official trip
He and PM Lee witnessed the signing of three agreements between Singapore and Malaysia
SINGAPORE — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Singapore on Monday (30 January) for an official visit, his first since he became Malaysia's 10th prime minister last year.
Earlier today, Datuk Seri Anwar called on President Halimah Yacob following an official welcome ceremony at the Istana. He will also be attending an official lunch hosted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his honour.
In his one-day visit, PM Anwar and PM Lee witnessed the signing of three agreements between Singapore and Malaysia, according to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
Stronger ties between Singapore and Malaysia for a digital and green economy
Two agreements focused on collaboration in the digital economy and green economy between Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry and Malaysia's Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
This partnership is Malaysia's first green economy agreement with any country and is expected to boost collaboration and help businesses and workers take advantage of green economic opportunities.
The agreements will see the both sides deepen cooperation in areas such as the setting of standards and the deployment of charging points for electric vehicles and jointly explore projects in low-carbon solutions, according to The Straits Times.
Also on the agenda was the exchanging information on carbon markets, exploring collaboration on carbon credits projects and developing new and renewable energy-related technology standards for supporting domestic and regional decarbonisation.
Enhance greater digital economy within ASEAN
Singapore's Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and Malaysia's Ministry of Communications and Digital (MCDM) also signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in data protection, cyber security, and digital economy areas.
The digital economy framework of cooperation is seeking to strengthen collaboration beyond the outlines of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, to which both Singapore and Malaysia are signatories.
This is to enhance industries and small businesses' competitiveness and spur greater digital economy cooperation within ASEAN.
Among the subjects covered are data protection policies, cross-border data flows, cyber-security threats and artificial intelligence.
Orchid Hybrid named in honour of PM Anwar and his wife
An orchid hybrid was also named in honour of PM Anwar and his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
In a Facebook post on Monday, PM Anwar said that he hoped the visit would further strengthen the relationship and cooperation between the two countries.
In another separate post, Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said: "Honoured to welcome Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to Singapore."
PM Anwar was accompanied by Minister of Transport Anthony Loke, Minister of International Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil, Premier of Sarawak Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari, and Menteri Besar of Johor Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
PM Anwar will also engage with the Malaysian community before departing from Singapore on Monday evening.
(Updated to include additional information from the statement of Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.)
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