KUALA LUMPUR MAR.15:- Education has always been an integral component of Malaysia-Egypt relations and Egypt continues to be a popular destination for Malaysian students to pursue their tertiary education, especially in Islamic studies, medicine and dentistry.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah said, Malaysia is very grateful to Egypt for welcoming thousands of our students who find that the environment is very conducive during their stay there.
“We also appreciate scholarships (60 scholarships – one off offer) offered by the Egyptian Government to students from Malaysia. Our Ministry of Higher Education is following up to optimize the uptake of this offer.
“Malaysia also looks forward to welcome more international students to pursue their studies in Malaysia and as of January 2022 there are 2,306 students from Egypt studying here,” said Saifuddin in a joint press conference held here today with Foreign Minister of Egypt, Sameh .Shoukry.
Saifuddin stressed that economic relations between the two countries should be further intensified. Egypt is Malaysia’s largest trading partner in North Africa. In 2021, Malaysia’s total trade was valued at RM3.8 billion (USD904.1 million), a substantial increase of 84.5 percent, compared to the recorded value in 2020.
Meanwhile in 2021 Saifuddin said, Malaysia’s palm oil export to Egypt was valued RM1.58 billion, a substantial increase of 103 percent (from RM777.9 million recorded in 2020).
Saifuddin added, Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry is also scheduled to undertake a trade mission to Egypt soon.
“Sameh Shoukry and I also touched on regional and international developments of interest to both Malaysia and Egypt. We exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and are aware of the dire humanitarian situation there. Therefore, our focus is on providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
“I believe Malaysia and Egypt can work together in this respect, and also in the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan,” Saifuddin said.
Saifuddin added, Civil Society Organisations (CSO) is actively working on the ground to help the people in Afghanistan. From Malaysia we have Global Peace Mission (GPM), Muslim Volunteer Malaysia (MVM), Muslim Care Malaysia (MCM), MERCY Malaysia and Pertubuhan Ikatan Kekeluargaan Rumpun Nusantara (HaRUM) and Buddha’s Light International Association.
Meanwhile Saifuddin said, Global Peace Mission (GPM) in particular, has set up their Humanitarian Centre in Kabul. And they would be ready to explore potential cooperation with CSOs from other countries, including from Egypt to carry out humanitarian work and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan
Regarding the Russia-Ukraine Conflict, Saifuddin said, the international community is focusing on the developments in Ukraine.
However Saifuddin said, what is most important is that Malaysia and Egypt should have continuous efforts to find a political solution to this issue through peaceful dialogues and negotiations.
“We agreed that there should be efforts to deescalate and focus on humanitarian assistance. We share the view that unilateral sanctions can exacerbate tension and have far reaching regional and global ramifications.
“Let me say by way of concluding that today Foreign Minister Shoukry and I reaffirmed our commitment to the important, longstanding relations between Malaysia and Egypt,” said Saifuddin. –Malaysia World News.
