WORKING VISIT OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF MALAYSIA TO THE HOLY SEE 8-10 MAY 2017
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, YB Dato’ Sri Anifah Aman will be undertaking a working visit to the Holy See from 8 to 10 May 2017. This will be the Minister’s first working visit to the Holy See.
One of the aims of the visit is to officiate the Embassy of Malaysia to the Holy See. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, the Most Reverend Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States, as well as a meeting with His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State to the Pope.
Both sides are keen to explore potential collaboration in various areas, including the effort to promote inter-religious dialogue and understanding. The dignitaries are also scheduled to discuss regional and global issues of common concern. Through these discussions, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will be able to relay Malaysia’s views and position on matters affecting the international community.
The visit will provide Malaysia with the opportunity to expound on the concept of moderation, under its Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) initiative. GMM aims to promote tolerance, mutual understanding and respect through upholding the values of moderation and the rejection of extremism. This is essential in maintaining peace, unity and prosperity in a multi-religious and multi-ethnic community. The GMM initiative was formulated based on Malaysia’s experience in successfully developing its political, economic and social infrastructure, by providing an environment of racial and religious harmony – a fundamental platform that ensures collective effort towards nation building.
Diplomatic ties between Malaysia and the Holy See were formally established on 27 July 2011, subsequent to the working visit of Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak’s to the Holy See in July 2011. Ever since then, bilateral relations, which are based on mutual respect and understanding, have witnessed a positive trajectory.
The opening of Malaysia’s Embassy to the Holy See and the first visit by Dato’ Sri Anifah Aman marks another important milestone and has elevated relations between Malaysia and the Holy See to greater heights.
PUTRAJAYA
7 May 2017