Turkey - Malaysia Strategic Dialogue
“Thinking Diplomacy: New World New Horizons“When we look at the main trends in the world, global competition in the age of new economy based on "information and knowledge-based products" following "soil and machinery" is developing through "micro-nationalism", "integration" and "unpredictability’’. Challenges that determine the new nature of life and state; such as " crisis in resource and sharing ", unsustainability of production-consumption-growth formula, purge of the middle class with Chinese leverage, energy, water, and food insecurity, transition to the 4th dimension, liquidation of human resources in the workforce, transition from hard power to soft and smart power on the basis of the very changing state nature and anticipation management, can be formed as the basic references.
Within all these fundamental parameters, the transformations in technology are prone to change the whole human life and nature by developing with artificial intelligence, virtual/enhanced reality and mobility centered. It is obvious that the concepts of "Industry 4.0" and "Society 5.0" are important topics for managing the transformation of the world within the dimensions of industry and society. Another contributive factor is the turbulence that China creates as it begins to become intensively dominant on the world stage day to day. The New Silk Road project, "One Belt and One Road Initiative"; is shaped as a global integration project involving more than hundred countries, both on land and at sea, permanently changing the distribution of economic shares. In countries with no middle class, authoritarian regimes or chaos stands as two options in the fore-seeable future. How to make the division of labor in terms of regional and global security and how to share the costs is also a point of discussion in the coming period.
The development of new alliances on security can be read from the risks and the initiatives undertaken by dominant countries. The quality of the concepts of property and power, and the business model change historically. The future of the EU with the "Failure in Success" syndrome will be determined by the results of the polarization which revived in the West after the Brexit. Along with all these developments, "Ecosystem of safety" changes with the law. The "Security - Democracy" dilemma will be experienced much more after that. Because, for the democracy, it is difficult to survive in countries where the middle class is melting and security leans to a sophisticated ground. The question "Will security bring us authoritarian regimes" needs to be discussed further.
Turkey distinguishes itself with an 84-million inhabitants, growing economy and geo-strategic status in the center of Afro-Eurasia. Turkey's historical, political and cultural ties between Europe, Black Sea, Caucasus, Asia, Middle East and African countries, rising activity in the international arena, especially in the United Nations, being an important member of organizations such as NATO, OSCE and CICA and with active foreign policy, it has become an increasingly important actor on the global platform.
On the other hand Malaysia, with its strategic position in South Asia, its population of approximately 33 million, dynamic and educated young population, progress in technology and industry, growing economy and respected position in international organizations like UN, OIC, ASEAN, Non- Align Movement, APEC and D8, is a prominent country in the global arena.
The first diplomatic contact between Turkey and Malaysia was established in 1964. Political relations between Malaysia and Turkey in dual and multilateral platforms have been going well. There is an increase in official visits between two countries. The Strategic Partnership, which was established on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, is the result of the depth of political, economic and cultural ties, as well as being an indicator of the positive course of Turkey-Malaysia relations in bilateral and multilateral platforms.
Being members to the UN, the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation and the D-8, Turkey and Malaysia share a common perspective on a broad range of regional and global issues. The Free Trade Agreement (FAT) between Turkey and Malaysia, which came into force in 2015 and constitutes the first ever FTA that Turkey concluded with an ASEAN member. Malaysia is an important trade partner for Turkey in South Asia.
The bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Malaysia stood at 2.202 billion dollars in 2019 and trade gap weigh against Turkey was 1.494 billion dollars. The main products exported by Turkey to Malaysia are iron and steel, petroleum coke, defense industry products, textile fibers and products, clothing and accessories. The main products exported by Malaysia to Turkey are palm oil and other vegetable oils, electrical machinery and devices (diodes and transistors), synthetic filament yarns, unprocessed aluminum, synthetic and staple fibers.
The total amount of Turkish investment in Malaysia is approximately 350 million dollars, and as of 2019, the total amount of Malaysian direct investment in Turkey is 897 million dollars. Also, share of technology, halal food, Islamic banking, tourism, health, textile, co-investment in third country are the fields of cooperation between two countries where there is huge potential.
On the other hand, Turkey and Malaysia have common interests in geopolitics and security in Central Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. Considering the need for energy security, ensuring peace and security in these regions is necessary for the interests of both countries.
Economic growth of both Turkey and Malaysia force these countries to take each other into account. For Malaysia, Turkey is a good economic partner in Balkans, Middle East and Central Asia. Turkey sees Malaysia as an essential partner in the fields of politics, economy and security. Turkey attaches importance to its cooperation with Malaysia in order to improve its relations with other Asian countries. In this regards, Turkey gives great importance to its cooperation with Malaysia within the scope of OIC, ASEAN, Non-Align Movement, APEC and D8.
Both countries can develop a more effective strategic cooperation with regards to sustaining long term interests. At this point, a wider point of view is needed to look at the events. In the power systematic of today’s multi-dimensional world order which makes the multidimensional relations among the countries necessary, in order for Turkey-Malaysia relations to be carried to an ideal point; the focus must be on a structure that can create mutual depth not only on the political and strategic basis but also in all the parameters.
It is also being deeply felt that there is an urgent necessity for collaborative works of the two countries in order to solve the regional issues and to lead effectively in deepening in the Islamic World. History offers both the two countries opportunities for deepening their interdependency. In this regard, the Turkey - Malaysia Strategic Dialogue, which will bring together the representatives of the related sectors in a comprehensive way that includes the strategic dimension of the relations, will play a significant role.
Main Theme
Thinking Diplomacy: New World New Horizons
Sub Themes
New Balances New Economy
Global challenges, Multi-polar New World and Foreign Policy Perspectives
Economic Relations: Opportunities and Obstacles
The System of Resources: Mutual Supplementary Opportunities
Multidimensional Security and Defence Cooperation
Multilateral Cooperation Perspectives: ASEAN, OIC, D8
Civil Society, Academic and Cultural Cooperation
Primary Sectors
Public Diplomacy, Education and Language
Culture and Tourism
Construction, Construction Business and Infrastructure
Health and Health Tourism
Energy, Petro-chemistry and Investments
Logistics, Transportation and Communication
Banking and Finance (Strategic Investment Fund)
Economy and Trade
Media and Communication
Science and Technology
Brand Cities and Environment
Defence and Space Industry
STUDIES AND ACTIVITIES (DRAFT)
Method
Inductive Reasoning, Participation and Economic Deepening
Turkey - Malaysia Committee of Wise Persons Meetings Workshop
Building Capacity and Ecosystem Inventory
Preparation of Research Projects and their Reports
Development of Pro-active Policy Recommendations
Round-Table Meetings/Workshops
Multilateral Workshops/Studies
Sector Workshops/Activities
Applied Interactive Modelings
Strategic Reports
Publication of sector studies as strategic reports for decision makers, private sector, media and public opinion of the two countries. Providing literature and memory support.
Media Conferences
Other Academic Studies
Strategic Reports, Books, Articles, Thesis and so on Academic Studies
Event Page
https://tasam.org/en/Etkinlik/17290/turkey_-_malaysia_strategic_dialogue
