JAKARTA — Malaysia and Indonesia are looking forward to the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2027, as bilateral cooperation between the close neighbours and strategic partners continues to gain momentum.

Malaysia’s Chargé d’Affaires to Indonesia Farzamie Sarkawi said this at the Malaysia Day celebration hosted by the Embassy of Malaysia in Jakarta, here on Tuesday night, highlighting the unique relationship between the two countries, which share history, language, and culture.

“We are not only neighbours, but also brothers and sisters who share history, language, and culture,” he said in his remarks, adding that the strength of Malaysia-Indonesia relations has enabled both countries to address obstacles and challenges through dialogue, mutual respect, and a spirit of friendship and togetherness.

The celebration was attended by Malaysia’s Ambassador-designate to Indonesia Datuk Muzaffar Shah Mustafa; Indonesia’s Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto; Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra, and Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian.

Farzamie said bilateral cooperation continues to gain momentum, with trade reaching US$34.22 billion (US$1=RM4.08) in 2025, while Malaysia remained Indonesia’s fourth-largest investor with investments amounting to US$4.5 billion.

He said people-to-people connections also remained strong, with more than 2.63 million Malaysian tourists visiting Indonesia last year, making Malaysia the largest source of foreign visitors to the republic, while 4.26 million Indonesian tourists visited Malaysia.

Farzamie said the leaders of both countries maintained close working and personal relations. This was reflected in the Annual Consultation between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta last year and Anwar’s special visit to the Indonesian capital on March 27 this year.