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| Bilateral Relations ＞ Prime Minister Dato' Sri Haji Mohd. Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak visits Japan |
| Overview of Japan-Malaysia
Relationship |
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1. Introduction
The diplomatic relationship between Japan and Malaysia was established in 1957. Since then, bilateral relations have been strengthened through the implementation of the Look East Policy, economic relations, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Various cultural events were held for "Japan-Malaysia Friendship Year 2007" to commerate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. 2. Economic Relations ((a)Trade (i)Major export goods to Japan : Petroleum and liquefied natural gas, electronic equipment, wood and wood products (ii) Major import goods from Japan: Electronics, vehicles, machineries, iron and steel products (iii) According to the “Trade Statistics, Ministry of Finance of Japan, the export to Japan is as follows. 1,801.0 billion yen (approx. RM 55.21 billion) (2006) 2,046.9 billion yen (approx. RM 55.24 billion) (2007) 2,397.6 billion yen (approx. RM 71.79 billion) (2008) 1,558.4 billion yen (approx. RM 54.42 billion) (2009) The import from Japan is as follows. 1,537.1 billion yen (approx. RM 63.59 billion) (2006) 1,769.0 billion yen (approx. RM 65.54 billion) (2007) 1,705.4 billion yen (approx. RM 65.10 billion) (2008) 1,200.1 billion yen (approx. RM 54.29 billion) (2009) (b) Investment in Malaysia (2009) Investment in the manufacturing industry amounts to RM 7 billion (approximately 185.6 billion yen). Japan is the number one investor in Malaysia in 2009, followed by Hong Kong (RM 5.3billin) and USA (RM 2.3billion ) (c) Economic Cooperation The cumulative amount of loan aid to Malaysia up to 2007 is 969.3 billion yen, while the cumulative amount of grant aid is 12.8 billion yen. The amount of technical cooperation up to 2007 reaches 107.6 billion yen. (d) Cultural and People-to People Exchanges People-to-people exchanges have been promoted through Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth Program and the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth program. Japanese experts have been sent to Malaysia on various programs such as Japan Study Support program and Dispatch of Lecturers program. Various cultural performances and art exhibitions have been held occasionally to promote cross-cultural exchanges. Dispatch of Malaysian students to Japan is significant in promoting bilateral relations. Currently 2,395 Malaysian students are studying in Japan (as of May, 2009 ). Note: The number of Malaysian students in Japan is the 5th highest after the number of Chinese, Koreans, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese students. (e) Japanese Nationals Residing in Malaysia 9,152 Japanese nationals are residing in Malaysia (as of October, 2009). (f) Malaysian Nationals Residing in Japan 8,291 Malaysian nationals are residing in Japan (as of December 2008). (g) Major Bilateral Agreements and Arrangements Establishment of Diplomatic relations (31 August, 1957) Establishment of Embassy of Japan (9 September, 1957) Agreement on Trade and Commerce (Signed on 10 May, 1960) Agreement on Air Service (Signed on 11 February, 1965) Agreement on Quasi-Reparation (Signed on 21 September, 1967) Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation (Signed on 30 January, 1970) Postal-Order Exchange Arrangement (Signed on 18 November, 1983) Japan-Malaysia Economic Partnership Agreement (Signed on 13 December, 2005, enforced on 13 July, 2006) (h) Recent Visits by VIPs: (i) To Malaysia:
(ii) To Japan:
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