KUALA LUMPUR – Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has begun a historic state visit to Russia, the first by a Malaysian Head of State since diplomatic ties were established in 1967.
The visit, which runs from August 5 to 10, comes at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and is expected to mark a new chapter in Malaysia-Russia relations.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who accompanied Sultan Ibrahim at the royal send-off ceremony at the Subang Royal Malaysian Air Force base today, said the trip would strengthen strategic cooperation across key sectors, including trade, investment, higher education, technology and people-to-people exchanges.
“Malaysia has the potential to attract new investments and advanced technologies from Russia, particularly in the fields of energy, aerospace, defence, and smart agriculture,” Anwar said in a Facebook post, adding that such efforts align with the government’s Madani Economy framework.
He also described the visit as a reaffirmation of the monarchy’s role in national diplomacy, saying it enhances Malaysia’s image as a neutral, open and progressive nation on the world stage.
“This reflects His Majesty’s role as a symbol of national unity and a strategic contributor to strengthening Malaysia’s international relations,” Anwar said.
Russia is currently Malaysia’s ninth-largest trading partner in Europe and 28th globally. Bilateral trade reached RM11.46 billion (US$2.48 billion) in 2024, with RM4.13 billion recorded in the first half of 2025. — August 4, 2025