ISTANBUL

The Malaysian prime minister hosted the Indonesian president in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday for talks to boost bilateral relations.

This is the first visit by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, 73, to Malaysia since being inaugurated as president of the Southeast Asia’s largest economy last October.

Premier Anwar Ibrahim and Prabowo held a closed-door meeting focusing on efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, according to a statement from Malaysian prime minister's office.

“Such visits underscore the profound bond between Malaysia and the Republic of Indonesia, which is anchored in strong collaboration across multiple sectors, including economic, socio-cultural, defense, and security domains,” said Anwar.

Earlier, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said the bilateral ties are underpinned by robust cooperation across various fields.

The visit assumes significance as Malaysia early this month assumed the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.

The two leaders exchanged views on strengthening ASEAN community, regional cooperation and addressing common global challenges.

Indonesia is a major trading partner for Malaysia, standing as the seventh-largest globally and the third-largest within ASEAN countries.

The total bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to $24.39 billion in 2023.