RIYADH: The inaugural meeting of the Saudi-Malaysia Coordination Council (SMCC), held here on Tuesday (Dec 10), is set to become an annual event.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan announced that Malaysia would host next year’s edition of the meeting.
He explained that the primary purpose of the SMCC was to coordinate all activities related to bilateral relations between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
“Diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia have been well-established for a long time, and many collaborations have been undertaken, including in the fields of trade, investment, education, and tourism. However, we have observed that these efforts are often carried out in silos by the respective ministries and agencies involved.
“Therefore, the SMCC will oversee and coordinate all activities to ensure they are executed in the best possible manner,” he told Bernama after a dinner event with the Malaysian Diaspora and Business Community in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Mohamad added that cooperation under the SMCC has already achieved positive outcomes, including the signing of two memorandums of understanding (MoUs).
“There are currently seven more MoUs that we aim to finalise soon, and we will monitor these developments on an ongoing basis,” he said.
On Tuesday, the inaugural SMCC meeting was co-chaired by Mohamad and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal Farhan Al-Saud, at the office of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The SMCC serves as a bilateral mechanism to promote cooperation and functions as a coordinating body between the two nations in eight key areas: politics, security, defence, military, trade and investment, energy and the environment, Islamic affairs, and education and socio-cultural matters.
Mohamad arrived in the capital of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for an official visit.
The aircraft carrying Mohamad landed at King Khalid International Airport at 11.35am Tuesday (4.35pm Malaysia time).
Welcoming him at the airport were the Malaysian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, and representatives from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mohamad is also scheduled to sign two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) following the meeting -- one on the Mutual Short Stay Visa Exemption for Diplomatic, Special, and Official Passport Holders, and another in the Field of Social Development.
On Thursday, Mohamad is set to also engage in high-level discussions with Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister Dr Tawfig bin Fazwan Al-Rabiah in Madinah.
Malaysia is Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner among Asean countries and its seventh-largest globally.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia was Malaysia’s largest trading partner in the Middle East, with a total trade value of RM50.52bil (US$11.06bil).
For the first eight months of 2024, bilateral trade reached RM30.09bil (US$6.43bil).- Bernama
