Malaysia to step up cultural ties with South Korea, Russia, says Nancy

 

Tourism minister Nancy Shukri held talks on strengthening cultural relations with South Korea and Russia yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will step up cultural relations with South Korea and Russia to further boost its tourism industry.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Nancy Shukri said she discussed enhanced cultural links with South Korean ambassador Lee Chi Beom and Russian ambassador Naiyl M Latypov when they paid courtesy calls on her yesterday.

She said South Koreans comprised the most important group of tourists to Malaysia with 673,065 arrivals last year, an increase of 9.1% over 2018.

“Among the matters discussed at the meeting (with Lee) was strengthening strategic cooperation in the cultural field in conjunction with the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year,” she said in a statement.

Nancy said Malaysia has been a regular exhibitor at the newly opened Asean Culture House in Busan and a yearly participant in the Asean-Korea Traditional Orchestra.

On her meeting with Latypov, Nancy said they discussed about strategic cooperation between her ministry and the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Kuala Lumpur.

She said Malaysia received 79,984 Russian tourists in 2018 and this number increased by 9.9% last year. - FMT