Uzbekistan-Malaysia: Economic and Cultural Connections and a Glimpse into the Future

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President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will pay an official visit to Malaysia on February 4-5 at the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

 

Malaysia was among the first countries to recognize Uzbekistan's independence and establish diplomatic relations with our country on February 21, 1992. The foundational principles of these relations were outlined in the Joint Communiqué of Uzbekistan and Malaysia, signed on April 3, 1993.

Despite the geographical distance between them, the two nations maintain a productive dialogue at the highest level, strengthening cooperation in various fields. President Mirziyoyev met with the former King of Malaysia, Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-28) in Dubai on December 1, 2023.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with the former King of Malaysia, Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-28), in Dubai on December 1, 2023.

The visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Uzbekistan in May 2024 provided a powerful impetus for Uzbek-Malaysian cooperation. During the visit, a Joint Statement on deepening multifaceted collaboration was signed, reaffirming both nations’ commitment to further strengthening political dialogue, inter-parliamentary ties, trade and investment, and cultural and humanitarian exchanges. The two sides emphasized mutual interest in elevating bilateral relations to the level of comprehensive partnership soon. Additionally, during the Uzbek-Malaysian Business Forum held in Samarkand, a substantial investment package of 19 agreements worth over 3 billion dollars was signed.

The strong bonds of friendship between Uzbekistan and Malaysia are based on shared religious beliefs, cultural similarities, and common traditions.

Strategic development and modernization programs, such as “Uzbekistan - 2030” and “Malaysia Madani,” further enhance cooperation, making it even more effective and promising.

Both nations are committed to sustainable economic growth, technological innovation, improving quality of life, and fostering human capital development. The alignment of their priorities enables them to exchange experiences, adapt successful practices, and strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships across various sectors.

 

Political and Diplomatic Relations

Inter-parliamentary dialogue has been actively developing, facilitated by friendship groups established in the parliaments of both countries in 2020. In April 2023, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Malaysian Parliament, Johari bin Abdul, participated as an observer in Uzbekistan constitutional referendum. In July 2024, Nuriddin Ismoilov, Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, visited Malaysia.

Regular political consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries address key issues on the bilateral agenda. In February and July 2024, Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov led delegations on productive visits to Malaysia.

Uzbekistan and Malaysia also collaborate closely with international organizations such as the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement. They support each other’s initiatives and often share similar positions on global and regional issues.

Malaysia has backed several Uzbekistan-initiated resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly, including those on sustainable development in Central Asia, environmental innovations in the Aral Sea region, connectivity between Central and South Asia, the role of parliaments in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and regional solidarity for sustainable development.

Economic and Trade Cooperation

Trade and economic relations between Uzbekistan and Malaysia enjoy the most-favoured-nation status. The Intergovernmental Joint Commission plays a crucial role in expanding cooperation. The first meeting of the commission took place in Kuala Lumpur on May 29, 2024, resulting in the signing of a joint statement.

The Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has had a representative office at the Embassy of Malaysia in Tashkent since 2019, facilitating mutual trade.

In December 2024, Uzbekistan held its first-ever trade fair at Paradigm Mall in Petaling Jaya, showcasing agricultural food products, nuts, and dried fruits with Malaysia's KNKV Group. The event demonstrated the competitiveness of Uzbek products in the Malaysian market and set new trends in trade relations.

Bilateral trade turnover exceeded $102 million in 2024, but both sides see significant potential for further growth. Finding optimal transportation routes is an important aspect of current cooperation. Today, 40 Malaysian-funded enterprises operate in Uzbekistan, while Uzbek entrepreneurs are gradually entering the Malaysian market

Six projects totalling $12 million have been implemented in recent years with Malaysian investments. This includes infrastructure projects worth $9.3 million in Gulistan supported by the University of Technology Malaysia. A project to establish an innovative IT education institution is also underway.

Cultural and Educational Ties

Cooperation in tourism, health care, sports, cultural exchanges, and education is expanding each year. Regular joint conferences, symposiums, exhibitions, and cultural events strengthen these ties.

Uzbekistan and Malaysia are intensifying collaboration in previously unexplored fields, such as halal industry and Islamic banking. As a global leader in halal exports and Islamic finance, Malaysia offers valuable experience in these sectors. Expanding cooperation in these areas can integrate Uzbekistan into the global halal supply chain, boost Islamic banking, and enhance human capital development.

Uzbek-Malaysian cultural and humanitarian cooperation serves as a bridge uniting tradition, and values. This partnership, based on mutual respect and the shared desire to preserve cultural heritage, strengthens friendly relations between the two nations. Common historical and cultural parallels provide a solid foundation for experience exchange, and joint projects in education, art, science and tourism.

Educational cooperation is continuously expanding. Under Malaysia’s Technical Cooperation Program (MTCP), over 900 Uzbek specialists have attended training programs in Malaysia since 1994.

Currently, more than 500 Uzbek students study in Malaysian universities, and between 2021 and 2023, 25 agreements and memorandums on academic cooperation were signed.

In May 2024, Q Study World, in partnership with the World Association of Youth, opened an educational centre in Tashkent to support students pursuing higher education abroad.

Malaysia highly values Uzbekistan’s contributions to Islamic civilization and has actively participated in preserving its spiritual heritage.

A notable example of this collaboration was the Fourth International Scientific and Practical Conference, “Scholars of Islamic Civilization,” held in Tashkent in May 2024. Additionally, in October 2024, an international conference in Kuala Lumpur explored modern approaches to studying the legacy of Imam Bukhari.

Tourism and People-to-People Connections

The trip to Malaysia in January this year by a delegation from Uzbekistan led by the Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization Firdavs Abdukholikov was very fruitful. The International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization in Malaysia handed over to the Uzbek side facsimile copies of historical manuscripts belonging to the cultural heritage of our country - “At-Tafhim” by Abu Rayhan Beruni and “Shahnameh” by Abul Qasim Ferdowsi, rewritten during the Temurid era.

Malaysian representatives are also traditional participants in international cultural, musical, sporting and educational events held in Uzbekistan. In turn, Uzbek artists have successfully toured Malaysia, demonstrating the rich national music and dance art.

There is a great love in Malaysia for the Uzbek architectural style and traditions of architecture. Uzbek masters have restored many large structures and administrative buildings in Malaysia using unique architectural techniques. The interiors of the world-famous Petronas Twin Towers, Petronas Philharmonic Concert Hall, the country's largest Putra Mosque located next to the official residence of the Prime Minister, the An-Noor and Kampung Kling Mosques located in Kedah and Melaka, Islamic Arts Museum in Kuala Lumpur, and Albukhari International University in Kedah, as well as the Johor Bahru State palace and Sabah state government building are decorated using national Uzbek ornaments.

The interest of Malaysian filmmakers in our country is also growing. In 2020, a film crew from Malaysia shot a 10-part documentary on the sights of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, which was broadcast on TV1 and TV2. In 2024, the Malaysian TV channel RTM showed a movie on the potential of pilgrimage tourism in Bukhara. An agreement has already been reached to shoot a 10-part documentary on Uzbekistan's cultural heritage and tourism potential.

Uzbekistan, in turn, has opened its doors wide for the Malaysian people - since February 2018, a 30-day visa-free entry regime to our republic has been in effect for the citizens of this country. The established regular air communication contributes to the growth of mutual tourist flow - the number of Malaysian tourists visiting Uzbekistan in 2024 has reached almost 10 thousand people.

During the first international Forum on pilgrimage tourism held in Bukhara in February 2019, Mufti Mohd Asri bin Zainul Abidin of the Malaysian state of Perlis was appointed Uzbekistan's Honorary Ambassador for Pilgrimage Tourism. In April of the same year, Daler Khamrokulov, a Malaysian actor born in Uzbekistan, became the Ambassador of Uzbekistan's tourism brand in Malaysia.

Uzbek tour operators traditionally participate in the major tourism exhibition in Malaysia “MATTA Fair” and other prestigious exhibitions, whereas Malaysian representatives of the hospitality industry are invariable participants of the annually held Tashkent International Tourism Fair.

In short, the horizons of Uzbek-Malaysian relations are expanding every year. The forthcoming official visit of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Malaysia will undoubtedly mark the beginning of the next stage in the strengthening of bilateral relations and reaffirm the aspiration of the two sides to forge a long-term trusting partnership. It will make it possible not only to summarize the results of the work done, but also to outline new areas of fruitful cooperation. It is expected that the agreements signed during the visit and the arrangements reached will become the basis for the implementation of strategic projects, contributing to strengthening regional stability and creating new opportunities for business and humanitarian exchanges between Uzbekistan and Malaysia.

 

«Dunyo» IA