Myanmar president departs Malaysia after two-day visit focused on repatriation, bilateral ties

On October 8, Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing concluded a two-day official visit to Malaysia. Upon his departure, he was honored with a red-carpet ceremony and a guard-of-honor by the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The delegation set off on a special flight at 2:10 pm, receiving a final send-off from Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

President Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Malaysia the previous day and was welcomed at the Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya. He engaged in high-level discussions with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, followed by a delegation meeting before attending a luncheon hosted by Anwar. Both nations agreed to enhance bilateral relations, prioritize people-centric cooperation, and provide support to Myanmar's efforts in pursuing reforms and policy adjustments to tackle complex challenges.

During the meetings, Myanmar committed itself to accepting the large-scale repatriation of its citizens and personnel at its own expense. As of now, more than 10,493 Myanmar nationals and personnel have been repatriated through flights and naval ships, with additional repatriation to be discussed between Malaysia's Ministry of Home Affairs and its Myanmar counterpart.

According to Prime Minister Anwar, the remaining Myanmar nationals would be repatriated in accordance with the stipulated rules and procedures, contingent on the verification of their records.

The economic ties between Malaysia and Myanmar showed significant potential, with bilateral economic activities increasing by more than 140 percent year-on-year.