Kerry In Malaysia

“Today, the United States and Malaysia have a very strong economic relationship,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said recently in Kuala Lumpur. “We are Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner and we are the largest foreign investor in Malaysian industries. But we believe we can do more. And the Trans-Pacific Partnership . . . is the instrument to help get us there.”

Kerry In Malaysia

“Having just left Brunei and the first-ever summit that has taken place between the U.S. and ASEAN, I want to thank Malaysia for its leadership . . . on all of the topics of importance to us,” Secretary Kerry said. “We’re very much looking forward to Malaysia’s chair of ASEAN, which will take place a year hence in 2015.”

Reflecting Malaysia’s important role in driving regional prosperity and our strengthening bilateral ties, Malaysia successfully hosted in Kuala Lumpur the fourth Global Entrepreneurship Summit, a signature initiative of President Barack Obama, where Secretary Kerry addressed thousands of young entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world.

“We’re convinced that we can do even more to help young leaders be able to achieve their goals,” Secretary Kerry said. “In order for . . . the success of entrepreneurs, both in the United States and Malaysia, to be as far reaching as possible, it’s imperative that we support open trade and open investment wherever we can.”

“Our two nations are really working together in more areas than ever before, in economics, in climate, in connectivity, law enforcement, counterterrorism, counter-proliferation, maritime security, science, [and] education,” Secretary Kerry continued.

“I’m also proud to say that the ties between our people are clearly getting stronger . . . American Fulbright English teaching assistants are connecting to Malaysian students all over the country in Kuala Lumpur all the way to Kuantan.”

“I want to thank Malaysia for its very committed partnership,” Secretary Kerry said. “I want to thank them for their friendship.”