Uzbekistan Wants to Cooperate With Malaysia's Jakim In Halal Standards - PM Anwar
TASHKENT, May 18 (Bernama) -- Uzbekistan wants to work with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) to ensure that halal standards in that country reach the level implemented by the department, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The Malaysian Prime Minister said it was one of the essences of the courtesy visit and bilateral meetings of the Malaysian delegation led by him with the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev here Friday.
He said Uzbekistan also intends to work with the National Heart Institute (IJN) to improve the quality of treatment in that country and to carry out joint projects.
“Uzbekistan also intends to send its Minister of Agriculture to Malaysia to learn efficient water-saving methods and technologies for drainage and agriculture purposes in Uzbekistan," said the Prime Minister in a statement Saturday.
In a meeting that lasted more than an hour, Anwar said President Mirziyoyev, among other things, expressed his appreciation for Malaysia's firmness in fighting for justice for the Palestinian people.
“Malaysia and Uzbekistan share the stance of wanting to see the existence of a free and independent Palestinian state,” he said.
Mirziyoyev also welcomed the hard work and continuous commitment of the Malaysian Government against corruption and abuse of power, in addition to appreciating the values raised in the concept of MADANI.
“President Mirziyoyev and I share the same desire to strengthen Malaysia-Uzbekistan bilateral relations, especially in trade and investment, apart from cooperation in the education, energy, halal industry, agriculture, transport, digital technology, health, tourism, culture and Islamic finance and banking sectors,” he said.
Anwar said he also extended an invitation to Mirziyoyev to come to Malaysia, especially to participate in the Global Forum of Islamic Economics and Finance in Kuala Lumpur on May 28.
“I deeply really appreciate the discussions which took in a friendly atmosphere, and it turned out to have strengthened the close relationship between the two countries,” he said.
Anwar arrived here on Friday for his inaugural three-day official visit to Uzbekistan.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by Foreign Minister Mohamad Hassan; Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar and the Malaysian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Ilham Tuah Illias.
On another development, it is crucial to establish relations between the competent ministries and agencies in Malaysia and Uzbekistan to exchange best practices in comprehensive marketing in the field of tourism in both countries.
In a joint statement on Friday, Anwar and Mirziyoyev said that taking into account that Malaysia is one of the leading countries in terms of attracting foreign tourists and implementing the concept of halal tourism, there is a need for the introduction of tourism standards that compatible with Islamic values.
“The growing flow of two-way tourists was positively evaluated, and the increasing air traffic between the capitals and establishing direct air flights from the major cities of Malaysia to the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara will serve to activate the relations between the business circles and increase the flow of tourists,” read the statement.
It said that Malaysia welcomes the existing regular flights to and from Uzbekistan via Batik Air and Uzbekistan Airways and looks forward to becoming a tourism hub for the Central Asian region to Malaysia as well as the ASEAN countries.
Both leaders also emphasised that as the two countries are connected by historical ties, common religion, and similar spiritual values, and it was agreed to continue the effective cooperation between the research centres in studying and promoting the rich heritage of Islamic civilisation.
“The leaders discussed their concerns over the rising religious intolerance and Islamophobia which has been observed in some countries recently and agreed to widely promote the ideas of interreligious tolerance and harmony on a global scale, for the greater good of the Ummah,” read the statement.
Uzbekistan is the last stop of Anwar’s official visit to three Central Asian countries. He had visited the Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan earlier.
-- BERNAMA
