Türkiye will continue to assess the joint steps it can take with Malaysia in the defense industry field, "guided by the win-win principle," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

Erdogan's remarks came during a joint news conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Noting his visit to Kuala Lumpur in February last year, where both parties agreed to establish a high-level cooperation council between the two countries, Erdogan said that the first meeting was held on Wednesday.

Stating that they had just signed agreements strengthening the contractual foundation of bilateral relations, Erdogan said that Malaysia is Türkiye’s largest trading partner in the ASEAN region.

Pointing out that a free trade agreement already exists between Türkiye and Malaysia, Erdogan noted that during his visit to Kuala Lumpur, they had announced a trade volume target of $10 billion, adding that he sincerely believes this goal can be reached in a balanced and sustainable manner through joint efforts.

He also expressed his desire for Malaysia to increase its investment in Türkiye.

“Likewise, we wish to bring renewed momentum to the investment relations between our countries and encourage Malaysia to increase its investments in our country," he further said.

The meeting also addressed the human dimension between the two nations, including education and culture, which "will strengthen the ties" between the two nations, Erdogan said.

He noted that the global issues were also discussed, adding that Ankara and Kuala Lumpur are sharing similar views on those issues.

"Especially, we will continue to closely follow Gaza," Erdogan said.

Türkiye gives importance to its cooperation with regional countries and ASEAN under Ankara's Asia Anew Initiative, which was launched in 2019, the president also said.

He also praised Anwar for his contribution to de-escalating tension between Thailand and Cambodia.

Agreements signed between 2 countries

A joint declaration on the establishment of the high-level strategic cooperation council was signed, along with the minutes of the first joint committee meeting on cooperation in higher education, and a memorandum of understanding between the Investment and Finance Office of Türkiye and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.

The Export Credit Bank of Türkiye and the Export-Import Bank of Malaysia also signed a memorandum of understanding.

Economic and social research cooperation between the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) and the Malaysian Institute of Strategic and International Studies was signed.

DESAN Shipyards and the Malaysian Home Affairs Ministry signed a letter of acceptance for the procurement of a multi-purpose mission vessel.

Also, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in information and communication technologies between Türkiye’s Information and Communications Technologies Authority and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission was signed.