Malaysia, Saudi Arabia ink key agreements in various fields
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Saudi Arabia yesterday cemented several key agreements in Malaysia’s administrative capital in conjunction with the state visit of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
King Salman and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak witnessed the signing of the memorandums of understanding (MoUs).
Malaysia and Saudi Arabia inked MoUs in economic cooperation, labour and human resources, as well as scientific and educational cooperation.
There was also an MoU between the Malaysian National News Agency, Bernama, and Saudi Press Agency ( SPA) on news exchange.
The MoU on economic cooperation was signed by Malaysia’s International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Saudi Arabia’s State Minister Dr Ibrahim Al Assaf.
Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Labour and Social Development Dr Ali Nassir Al Ghafies inked the MoU on labour and human resources.
The MoU between Bernama and SPA was signed by Bernama general manager Datuk Zulkefli Salleh and SPA president Abdullah bin Fahd Al Hussien.
Dr Ali Nassir also signed the MoU on scientific and educational cooperation with Malaysia’s Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.
The MoU on scientific and educational cooperation will become a symbol of the close and resilient bilateral ties between the two countries as it reflected the partnership and understanding of the two governments in the field of higher education.
This was especially for encouraging and promoting technical co- operation in several areas, involving exchange of academic staff, teachers, trainees, experts and students, information on the system and structure of higher education, reforms and new educational technologies and any other areas of co- operation that are mutually beneficial.
A Higher Education Ministry representative told Bernama that 1,178 Saudi Arabian students are enrolled in higher education institutions in Malaysia, with 723 of them in public institutions and 455 in private institutions.
As of December 2016, up to 355 Malaysians were studying in higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia.
Later, Najib accompanied King Salman to an official luncheon in honour of the Saudi Arabian King. During the luncheon, the guests were entertained to music and dances by several children from the Permata Seri Tari Centre. — Bernama