KUCHING – The Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi bin Tuanku Jaafar, received a courtesy visit from the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Malaysia, H.E. Peter Spisiak, at the Sarawak State Astana on 10 August.
The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on areas of mutual interest and explore opportunities to further develop relations involving Sarawak and the Slovak Republic.
Ambassador Hendy Assan, Director of the Sarawak Regional Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia, was also present during the courtesy call.
The meeting was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, reflecting the existing relationship between Malaysia and the Slovak Republic.
Discussions covered several areas that could provide opportunities for closer cooperation, including the economy, trade, investment, education, technology, tourism and culture.
Tun Pehin Sri and Peter Spisiak also exchanged views on current developments and matters of common interest during the meeting.
The discussions included Sarawak’s development progress across several sectors, as well as emerging areas of the state’s economy.
Among the areas highlighted was renewable energy, which was discussed alongside Sarawak’s established oil and gas sector.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss Sarawak’s broader economic development and the potential for future cooperation in areas that could benefit both sides.
In addition to economic and development matters, Tun Pehin Sri shared his views on the history of Borneo.
He said there was a need for the history of Borneo to be revisited and rewritten from the perspective of local historians.
According to Tun Pehin Sri, such an approach could help provide a more accurate account of the region’s history and experiences.
The discussion on Borneo’s historical narrative added another dimension to the courtesy call, which otherwise focused largely on bilateral relations, development and potential areas of cooperation.
The visit also served as an opportunity for the Slovak ambassador to engage directly with Sarawak’s state leadership and gain a broader understanding of the state’s development and priorities.
For Sarawak, engagement with foreign representatives provides opportunities to highlight the state’s economic sectors and areas with potential for international cooperation.
The discussions on trade, investment, education, technology, tourism and culture could also provide avenues for greater interaction between Sarawak and the Slovak Republic.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Tun Pehin Sri expressed his appreciation to Peter Spisiak for the visit.
He also expressed hope that the friendly relationship between Sarawak and the Slovak Republic would continue to develop and lead to stronger cooperation in areas of mutual benefit.
The courtesy call reflects continued diplomatic engagement between Sarawak and representatives of foreign countries based in Malaysia.
It also provides a platform for exchanging views on economic development, international cooperation and issues of shared interest.
The meeting at the Sarawak State Astana in Kuching marked another engagement between the state’s leadership and a foreign diplomatic representative as both sides explored opportunities to strengthen their relationship.
