By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Bernama) -- France and Malaysia are enjoying a strong and growing relationship, marked by renewed momentum and deepening cooperation, said French Ambassador to Malaysia Axel Cruau.
He expressed optimism that both nations will continue to build on this positive trajectory, especially with the resumption of direct Malaysia Airlines flights between the two countries in March this year.
“I really hope for very good interactions and more visits between the leaders of both countries. France will be able to offer Malaysia more solutions to meet its needs,” Cruau said during an interview on Bernama TV’s The Nation programme Diplomatic Dispatch, broadcast on Tuesday.
“France wants to be partners with Malaysia. I feel that we already are in some key areas,” he added.
Speaking to Bernama after the programme, Cruau noted that before the reinstated direct flights, passengers from France had to transit via Amsterdam or Singapore to reach Malaysia, which was time-consuming.
“Now, the direct flights from France to Malaysia are always full. Beyond tourism, it helps a lot for business people,” he said, stressing the broader impact on economic and people-to-people connectivity.
Looking ahead, Cruau said he hopes leaders from both countries will be able to deepen conversation between the two countries regarding “people-to-people, army-to-army, training, procurement and equipment.”
Referring to people-to-people ties between the two countries, the ambassador said next month will see a French Innovation Day held here, focusing on AI. Another upcoming event is French Gastronomy in October, which he said would also bring France closer to Malaysia.
He described such events as “small bricks” that contribute to the solid and steady building of relations between the two countries.
-- BERNAMA
