Malaysia to forge closer cultural ties with S.Korea, Russia

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will establish relations with South Korea and Russia in the field of culture to further boost the country's tourism industry.

Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said she discussed the potential during a courtesy call with South Korean Ambassador to Malaysia Lee Chi Beom and Russian Ambassador to Malaysia Naiyl M. Latypov yesterday.

"Tourists from the republic (South Korea) are the most important group of tourists for Malaysia with an entry of 673,065 people in 2019, an increase of 9.1 per cent compared to the previous year.

"We also discussed strengthening strategic cooperation in culture in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year," she said yesterday.

The ministry planned on organising cultural programmes to strengthen bilateral relations and connectivity between the people.

She said in culture, cooperation with South Korea had been good as Malaysia has been a regular exhibitor at the newly opened ASEAN Culture House in Busan and a yearly participant in the ASEAN-Korea Traditional Orchestra.

In the meeting with Latypov, Nancy said that the increase in the number of Russian tourists in 2019 was 9.9 per cent compared to 79,984 tourists in 2018. 

She said it was estimated that about 30,000 Malaysian tourists had visited Russia.

In recommending a strategic cooperation between Motac and the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Kuala Lumpur, Nancy hoped that the two countries could work together especially in the field of culture. – Bernama, September 22, 2020