President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a Working Visit to the nation.
The President is expected to be a Guest of the Chair at the 47th ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and the East Asian Summit in that country.
"The President's participation in the ASEAN Summits follows South Africa's recognition as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 2023, marking a significant milestone in advancing South-South cooperation and fostering inclusive, sustainable development throughout enhanced political, economic and multilateral collaboration," a Presidency statement read.
Full diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in November 1998.
"South Africa and Malaysia enjoyed exceptionally warm and dynamic relations in the decade following 1994, marked by close collaboration on multilateral platforms such as the Non-Aligned Movement, South-South Cooperation and Dialogue Partnerships.
"The relations with Malaysia and, by extension, Southeast Asia and ASEAN are of strategic importance to South Africa's Foreign Policy. They offer a gateway to dynamic regional markets, emerging technologies and help reinforce South Africa's position as a proactive and globally engaged partner in the Global South," the statement concluded.
President Ramaphosa is on a three-nation visit to the Southeast Asia region, which kicked off in Indonesia, followed by a State Visit to Vietnam. The President is now on a Working Visit to Malaysia.