Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has held a courtesy call with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during his visit to Johannesburg for the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
The meeting underscored the strengthening of bilateral relations between Malaysia and South Africa, coinciding with South Africa’s historic role as the first African nation to assume the G20 Presidency.
Anwar congratulated President Ramaphosa on the milestone, noting that the summit’s theme of Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability aligns closely with Malaysia’s priorities as ASEAN Chair 2025.
He emphasised Malaysia’s focus on disaster resilience, debt stability, and financing a fair and sustainable energy transition, areas that resonate with South Africa’s agenda for inclusive global cooperation.
The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral ties following Ramaphosa’s official visit to Putrajaya in October.
Malaysia is preparing to finalise and sign several memoranda of understanding covering economic and industrial cooperation, halal development, agriculture, green energy, technology, research, and education, including technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Anwar also extended an invitation to South African companies to participate in Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem by offering space and incentives at the MY Integrated Circuit (IC) Design Park.
This initiative aims to integrate South African firms into Malaysia’s growing semiconductor value chain, reflecting Malaysia’s ambition to expand technological collaboration with African partners.
Defence and trade cooperation were also discussed, with Malaysia highlighting opportunities in beef exports, science, and innovation.
In addition, Anwar sought South Africa’s support for Malaysia’s candidacy in several international bodies, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Human Rights Council (HRC), and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The Prime Minister reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to building stronger relations with South Africa based on solidarity, trust, and a shared development agenda.
He stressed that such cooperation would bring mutual benefits to both nations, enhancing economic opportunities while reinforcing cultural and diplomatic ties.
The courtesy call reflects Malaysia’s broader diplomatic strategy at the G20 Summit: amplifying ASEAN’s voice in global governance while deepening partnerships with Global South nations.
For South Africa, the engagement highlights its growing role in shaping multilateral dialogue and fostering cooperation across continents.
