ROME, Italy, July 2, 2025 – Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Rome on Tuesday evening, marking the start of a three-day working visit to the Republic of Italy from July 1 to 3, 2025. The visit, undertaken at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, underscores a commitment to deepen the longstanding bilateral relationship between Malaysia and Italy, while also reinforcing Malaysia’s role as the 2025 ASEAN Chair in fostering ties with the European Union.
Accompanied by a high-profile delegation, including Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, and other key cabinet members, Anwar was welcomed with a ceremonial guard of honour upon his arrival. The delegation’s presence signals a focus on expanding cooperation in critical areas such as trade and investment, defense technology, and the energy transition sector.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
In a statement posted on X late Tuesday, Anwar expressed gratitude for the warm reception and highlighted Italy’s strategic importance as Malaysia’s fifth-largest trading partner within the European Union. Historical trade data from 2009 shows bilateral trade reaching 2.033 billion MYR in the first four months alone, with Italy investing approximately 871.9 million MYR in Malaysia since March of that year, according to Wikipedia’s updated page on Italy–Malaysia relations. Italy also ranks as the third-largest importer of Malaysian palm oil among EU member states in 2024, further cementing economic ties.
During the visit, Anwar is scheduled to officiate the Malaysia-Italy Economic Partnership Roundtable on July 2, bringing together industry leaders from both nations to explore new opportunities in trade and investment. The roundtable is expected to pave the way for enhanced collaboration, particularly in emerging sectors like renewable energy and defense.
Elevating ASEAN-EU Engagement
As ASEAN Chair for 2025, Anwar emphasized that the visit will also serve to strengthen regional ties between Southeast Asia and Europe amid a challenging geopolitical and economic landscape. Discussions with Meloni are anticipated to cover regional and international issues, including the ASEAN-Italy Development Partnership, ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations, and the situation in the Middle East. This aligns with the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership 2024-2025, which prioritizes sustainable connectivity and economic collaboration, as outlined on the euinasean.eu platform.
Anwar expressed confidence that the visit will open a “new dynamic chapter” in Malaysia-Italy relations, delivering concrete benefits and elevating bilateral ties to new heights. “Malaysia sees Italy as a key strategic partner in Europe, and we are committed to expanding our cooperation,” he stated.
Upcoming Engagements
Following the conclusion of his Italian visit, Anwar is set to travel to France on July 3-4, 2025, for an official visit, further extending Malaysia’s diplomatic outreach in Europe.
The visit has garnered positive reactions on social media, with users like @madentrys calling for the handshake between Anwar and Meloni to translate into “real results,” while @prasetyoalbanna noted Malaysia’s role in reinforcing Southeast Asia’s global relevance.
As negotiations unfold, all eyes will be on the outcomes of this historic visit, which promises to bolster Malaysia’s international standing and foster stronger ties with Europe.