Johannesburg: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced his request for South Africa's backing for Kuala Lumpur's nominations to various international bodies. This announcement was made during Anwar's four-day visit to South Africa, where he is attending the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg as a guest of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

According to Anadolu Agency, Anwar expressed Malaysia's interest in securing South Africa's support for its nominations to the International Maritime Organization, the UN Economic and Social Council, and the International Telecommunication Union. Anwar conveyed this in a statement shared on a US social media platform.

During a courtesy meeting with President Ramaphosa, Anwar discussed the progress and state of bilateral relations since Ramaphosa's official visit to Malaysia last October. The discussions included strengthening cooperation in areas such as defense, trade, science, and innovation.

The Malaysian government is preparing to finalize and sign several significant documents, including memorandums of understanding on economic and industrial cooperation, halal cooperation, agriculture, green energy, technology, and research. Additionally, agreements concerning education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) cooperation are also in the pipeline, as stated in Anwar's announcement.