ANKARA 

Malaysia and Türkiye are strategic partners in Southeast Asia, Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler said Friday.

“Relations between our countries are based on historical and cultural ties and the principles of love, respect and cooperation,” said Guler as he addressed a reception to mark Malaysia's 66th Independence Day in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Noting that Malaysia has become a developing and strengthening country in every field in recent years, Guler said: “As Türkiye, we are very pleased with this development of our brother Malaysia, with whom we have deep-rooted historical and cultural relations.”

Diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Malaysia were established in 1964. “Being members of the UN, the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation and the D-8, Türkiye and Malaysia share a common perspective on a broad range of regional and global issues,” according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.