Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith is in Malaysia this week, starting with the inaugural Australia-Malaysia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Monday, followed by meetings with the Minister for Economic Planning and the Minister for Defence and the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs yesterday.
Smith discussed Australia’s response to the global economic crisis and both countries’ economic outlook, as well as forthcoming negotiations on the Malaysia Australia Free Trade Agreement.
The Australian minister also welcomed the Malaysian government’s recent implementation of a foreign investment liberalisation program, designed to open the Malaysian economy.
“Australia and Malaysia also agreed to negotiate Memoranda of Understanding on sports cooperation, higher education and film co-production,” said Smith, announcing that Australia will offer a sports coaching scholarship to Malaysia supported by the Australia-Malaysia Institute.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, also in Malaysia, spoke with his counterpart Prime Minister Najib on defence cooperation to combat people smuggling.
