Anwar’s Paris Visit: Deals, Dialogue & A Moral Stand for Gaza
Paris, 5 July 2025
You could feel the weight of history and hope in Paris these past two days. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, also wearing his hat as ASEAN Chair, didn’t just visit France – he built bridges. Between deals and handshakes, he never shied away from the hard conversations: Gaza’s suffering, the need for real peace, and how Europe and Southeast Asia can finally meet as equals.
Walking the Talk of Partnership
After the solemn pomp of a welcome at Les Invalides, Anwar got down to business with French PM François Bayrou. This wasn’t just talk. They sealed three concrete pacts:
- Green Minerals: A deal to develop Malaysia’s rare earth industry responsibly (Malaco & Carester), ticking ESG boxes.
- Keeping Skies Safe: France’s Thales will provide advanced radar to protect Malaysian airspace.
- Trade Boost: MATRADE and Business France teaming up to push investment in aerospace, renewables, and tech.
Anwar warmly thanked France for backing Malaysia’s clean energy shift, name-checking giants like ENGIE and Total. Unsurprisingly, he invited Bayrou to see Malaysia’s progress firsthand soon.
French Business Bets on Malaysia
Facing a room packed with 40+ French CEOs (think L’Oréal, Air Liquide, Schneider Electric), Anwar pitched Malaysia hard – but honestly. “We’re your stable, pro-investment gateway to ASEAN,” he stressed, highlighting strengths in semiconductors, clean energy, and a skilled workforce. The message resonated. Long-time players reaffirmed commitment, while Anwar nudged them towards new frontiers: carbon capture, digital tech, and defence. Private equity firms also jumped in, signing a deal to explore Malaysian investments.
Sorbonne Speech: A Call for Respect & Justice
At the iconic Sorbonne, Anwar’s voice took on a different tone. His lecture, “Southeast Asia and Europe: Recalibrating the Terms of Engagement,” was a diplomatic gut-check. “Enough of the old shadows,” he urged. “Our future must be built on fairness, mutual respect, and true equality.” He championed ASEAN’s maturity and Malaysia’s role as a voice for peace.
Then came the moral core. On Gaza, his words were impassioned: “The world’s silence on this heart-wrenching humanitarian crisis is deafening. Violence against innocents, blocked aid – it must end. Justice isn’t selective.” He later welcomed President Macron’s own calls for Israel to halt operations and allow aid. On Ukraine, the principle was clear: sovereignty matters, peace is paramount. On rising Islamophobia in Europe, he invoked France’s own creed: “Fraternité must mean real solidarity, beyond labels.” He pleaded for deeper dialogue, reminding everyone how Islamic and Western civilizations once lifted each other through shared knowledge and trade.
Heart-to-Heart with Macron
The visit peaked with a working dinner and private chat with President Emmanuel Macron. This felt less like formal talks, more like two leaders finding common ground in shared democratic values. They celebrated thriving ties – from Airbus jets soaring through Malaysian skies to PETRONAS partnering with French energy firms on clean tech, plus AI and student exchanges.
Anwar praised Macron’s stance on multilateralism and peace. They even mused on Alexis de Tocqueville’s idea of “Habits of the Heart” – that trust and shared morals are the bedrock of true global cooperation. Before leaving, Anwar handed Macron a personal invitation: “Come to Malaysia. Let’s take this partnership even further.”
Sealing the Skies Deal
A tangible win came as Anwar watched AirAsia and Airbus shake hands on a major fleet deal – new A321XLRs for regional hops and A330neos for Malaysia Aviation Group. It’s more than planes; it’s faith in French tech and a tighter bond between the two nations.
Beyond the signatures and speeches, Anwar’s visit did something vital. It proved Malaysia-France ties are strong enough to handle both billion-euro deals and the world’s toughest moral questions. He left Paris having deepened trust, opened new doors, and reminded everyone that leadership means speaking up for humanity, especially for Gaza. The door is now open for Macron’s return visit – the next chapter in a partnership built on both pragmatism and principle.