Political relations between Malaysia and Germany are principally based on the two countries’ economic relations.

Germany and Malaysia have enjoyed close economic ties for many years. The Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was founded in 1991, is the largest such chamber of any EU member state.

Malaysia is Germany’s principal trading partner among the ASEAN countries and attracts foreign direct investment thanks to its favourable investment climate, while this investment in turn ensures technology transfer which stimulates the economy. A large number of German companies operate in Malaysia, many run production plants and export the goods manufactured there worldwide. Malaysia is also increasingly being used by German companies as a regional hub for Southeast Asia and beyond. Germany, for its part, is Malaysia’s most important trading partner in the European Union.

When it comes to cultural cooperation, the focus is on higher education, with numerous cooperation agreements between German and Malaysian universities, including universities of applied sciences. There are an increasing number of double degree programmes leading to degrees that are recognised in both Germany and Malaysia. This has also led to an increase in the number of German guest students in Malaysia.

The Goethe-Institut in Kuala Lumpur opened its doors in 1962. The German School in Kuala Lumpur was founded in 1979 and offers education from preschool, through primary school, right up to the German university-entrance qualification (Abitur) level.

Some of Germany’s political foundations support ecological, socio-cultural and education- and media-oriented projects in Malaysia. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has its own office in Kuala Lumpur.