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MALAYSIA must be prepared to capitalise on every opportunity available in Russia, especially in trade, should diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States improve, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Speaking at a dinner gathering with Malaysians in Moscow on Tuesday, Mohamad said Russia presents a wealth of opportunities across various sectors due to its diverse resources and technological strengths, including in agriculture.
"Malaysia has long enjoyed good relations with Russia, though they have not flourished fully due to unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States," Bernama cited him saying.
"In reality, there are numerous opportunities in this country, and we must be ready to explore them. If US-Russia relations recover, we must be in a position to seize the benefits.
"Washington now views things differently compared to previous administrations. I believe that if relations are restored, we stand to gain significantly."
Bernama cited that the event marked the start of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s four-day official visit to Russia, which runs until 16 May, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin. The itinerary includes engagements in Moscow and the Republic of Tatarstan’s capital, Kazan.
Among the ministers accompanying the Prime Minister are Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Li Kang, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, and Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
Mohamad also advised Malaysian students in Russia to maintain the nation's reputation and return home to contribute, particularly in critical sectors such as medicine and engineering.
Echoing that sentiment, Chang stressed the importance of the students’ overseas experience and expertise, especially as Malaysia aspires to become a high-tech nation by 2030.
"We hope to achieve high-tech nation status by 2030. In today’s volatile global climate, attracting quality, capital-intensive and tech-driven investments is no easy task.
"We need a highly skilled workforce, and where do we find that? One, from our domestic talent pool, and two, from you, our students abroad," he said.
Mohamad further urged Malaysian students to explore and adopt cutting-edge agricultural technologies to address national food security concerns.
"Look at China – they have advanced tremendously in modern agricultural technologies and other sectors. They are now on par with major world powers," he said.
Zambry, meanwhile, announced that the upcoming Higher Education Plan 2025–2035 will aim to reform Malaysia’s tertiary education system in line with current technological and global challenges, with a launch expected later this year.
Johari added that he had been appointed as Malaysia’s Coordinating Minister for Russia to address trade-related issues stemming from existing sanctions. - May 14, 2025
