SEOUL: Malaysia and South Korea have elevated their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, marking a significant milestone in their decades-long cooperation.

The announcement was made during a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Monday.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration in four key areas: peace and security, economic development, culture and education, and regional and global cooperation.

"This Strategic Partnership signifies the shared determination of Malaysia and South Korea to expand cooperation to new horizons in promoting freedom, peace, and prosperity while addressing pressing global challenges," said the statement.

The two leaders agreed to deepen defence and security ties, including cooperation in the defence industry and efforts to tackle non-traditional security issues such as cybercrime and drug trafficking. They also acknowledged the importance of regular high-level exchanges to strengthen mutual trust and strategic relations.

On the economic front, both sides committed to accelerating Free Trade Agreement negotiations to conclude them by 2025.

They also pledged to strengthen collaboration in emerging sectors such as the halal economy, digital technologies, and the green agenda.

The leaders highlighted the legacy of Malaysia's Look East Policy, which has bolstered cultural and educational exchanges over the past 40 years.

They intended to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding to deepen bilateral tourism cooperation.

Yoon also reiterated South Korea's support for Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, underscoring the importance of regional and global collaboration to address shared challenges.

The Joint Statement further condemned the use of ballistic missile technology by North Korea and called for strengthened international efforts to address humanitarian crises, including the situation in Gaza.

"The Strategic Partnership reflects our shared commitment to addressing regional and global issues through collaboration within ASEAN and other multilateral platforms," the statement added.

The Strategic Partnership extends to healthcare and medical science, with both nations committing to enhancing preparedness for potential future outbreaks.

Drawing from lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, they agreed to share policies, foster research and development, and expand partnerships in areas such as vaccines, pharmaceuticals and healthcare technology.

"The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in November 2019 serves as a foundation for promoting the health of our peoples and advancing our healthcare industries," the statement noted.

Addressing climate action, both sides reaffirmed their dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing clean energy technologies, including hydrogen energy and small modular reactors (SMRs).

The launch of the ROK-Malaysia Climate Change Dialogue in 2023 was welcomed as a platform for enhancing bilateral efforts to combat climate change.

Cultural and educational exchanges were also prioritised, with both leaders acknowledging the success of the Look East Policy (LEP) in strengthening ties.

Malaysia and South Korea agreed to promote student exchanges, expand vocational education cooperation, and deepen cultural collaborations under a MoU signed in 2020.

"Both sides also decided to work together to foster Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) cooperation involving various participants, including central and local governments, TVET institutions, and corporations," said the statement.

In tourism, the leaders celebrated the resurgence of visitors between the two nations and committed to signing a new MoU to further facilitate bilateral travel and strengthen consular cooperation.

Agriculture was also highlighted as another critical area, with both countries agreeing to advance research and development in smart agriculture and mechanisation while promoting collaboration in halal food production.

Digital cooperation was also discussed, with both sides agreeing to enhance collaboration in 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data.

Notable projects, such as the AI-based smart farms initiative, underscore the success of such partnerships.

Earlier, both leaders will also witness the exchange of three Memoranda of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Higher Education, Cooperation in the Field of Carbon Capture and Storage and Cooperation in Cooperative Approaches Under Article 6, Paragraph 2 of the Paris Agreement.

Anwar arrived here on Sunday for a three-day official visit to South Korea to further strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and South Korea.

Both countries will be celebrating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025.