CSIS and ISIS Malaysia Strengthen Bilateral Relations through Joint Study and Initiatives
June 16, 2011
WASHINGTON, June 13, 2011—Malaysia's Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak welcomed efforts by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) of the U.S. and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia to further strengthen bilateral relations by creating a multi-dimensional, research-based foundation for expanding cooperation in the areas of security and political affairs, trade and investment, science and technology, and educational and socio-cultural ties.
The Prime Minister met with Datuk Ernest Bower, senior advisor and director of Southeast Asia Studies at CSIS and Dato' Dr. Mahani Zainal Abidin, chief executive of ISIS Malaysia, during his recent working visit to the United States. Malaysia's Ambassador to the United States, Dato' Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis, also met with Mr. Bower and Dr. Mahani.
The joint initiatives involve collaboration in four main areas:
- Conduct a major study entitled "From Strength to Empowerment: The Next Generation of US-Malaysia Relations" to make specific near- and long-term recommendations on i) political and security cooperation; ii) trade and investment ties; iii) science and technology; and iv) education and socio-cultural ties.
- Establish an elite Malaysia-U.S. Advisory Board to guide the study and act as advisers to support bilateral relations.
- Place Malaysian Fellows at CSIS in Washington, D.C. to conduct targeted research and gain insights into Washington's policy making structures.
- Organize Congressional at least two delegations per year by US Senators, Congressmen and staff.
The CSIS and ISIS Malaysia joint study will begin immediately with a set of ideas and recommendations to be delivered in September 2011. In addition, the first Malaysian Fellow at CSIS will start his tour in June 2011 and a Congressional delegation under the new initiative will plan for an inaugural visit Malaysia in August 2011.
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CSIS is a bipartisan, non profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC. CSIS conducts research and analysis and develops policy initiatives that look into the future and anticipate change. It provides strategic insights and policy solutions to decision makers in government, international institutions, the private sector, and civil society.
The Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, Malaysia's premier think tank, was established on April 8, 1983. As an autonomous and non profit organization, ISIS Malaysia is engaged in objective and independent policy research. It also fosters dialogue and debate among the public sector, the private sector and academia. ISIS Malaysia has been at the forefront of some of the most significant nation-building initiatives in Malaysia's history, including the Vision 2020 and the Knowledge-Based Economy Master Plan initiative. The institute has also played a role in fostering closer regional integration and international cooperation through forums such as the Asia-Pacific Roundtable, the East Asia Congress and the Network of East Asian Think Tanks (NEAT).