KUALA LUMPUR - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have called for deeper international cooperation to counter protectionism and unilateral policies that threaten global trade and economic stability.

Erdogan, who is on an official visit to Malaysia from Feb 10 to Feb 11, urged developing nations to deepen their cooperation in a public lecture here on Monday, adding that only through strengthened cooperation will equitable economic development and shared prosperity be realized.

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"We observe that competition between countries has become more destructive, polarization has increased even more, and protectionism coupled with unilateral approaches have become a fact of everyday life," he said.

"Therefore, we need a new understanding and a new global order to solve our problems, ranging from economy to diplomacy, from trade to security. The construction of a system that embraces everyone, fair and inclusive, and based on trust is a necessity more than a preference," he said.

Erdogan welcomed Malaysia's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025, adding that Türkiye looks forward to cooperation with Malaysia in the context of the grouping.

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"I sincerely hope this new term under Malaysian leadership to be instrumental in strengthening the cooperation between our country and ASEAN," he said.

For his part, Anwar said Türkiye's progress as a developer and producer of new technologies, including drones, electric vehicles and space technology, serves as a reminder of the importance of self-sufficiency, also noting the country's increasing geopolitical influence.

"We look forward to further deepening our ties in the spirit of peace, prosperity, and shared destiny," he added.