Canada-Malaysia relations
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Bilateral relations
Canada and Malaysia will be celebrating 70 years of official diplomatic relations in 2027. Our friendly ties stretch back to the beginnings of modern Malaysia. Canada was one of the first countries to establish formal diplomatic relations with the newly independent Federation of Malaya in 1957. In Malaysia, Canada is represented by the High Commission of Canada in Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is represented in Canada by a High Commission in Ottawa, and a Consulate General in Vancouver.
Canada and Malaysia value multilateralism and interact in several forums, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Commonwealth, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and the World Trade Organization.
Trade relations
Malaysia is one of Canada’s largest bilateral merchandise trading partners in Southeast Asia. Since 2020, bilateral trade with Malaysia has increased by 60.5%, rising from $3.8 billion in 2020 to $6.1 billion in 2025. Canadian merchandise exports to Malaysia amounted to $1.7 billion in 2025 ($1.3 billion in 2024). Canadian imports were $4.4 billion in 2025 ($3.9 billion in 2024). Top Canadian exports included fertilizers, mineral ores, cereals, energy, and machinery.
As of November 2022, bilateral commercial exchanges between Malaysia and Canada are bolstered by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
Development
Since 2017, Canada contributed over nternational assistance to Malaysia through various bilateral and multilateral programs.
Through the High Commission of Canada in Malaysia and Canada’s Fund for Local Initiatives, Canada engages in strategic advocacy and supports programming to promote Canadian values. Canada works with Malaysian local partners in shared priority areas, including: gender equality, inclusive governance, environment and climate action and human dignity, covering health, education and nutrition.
Canada’s ASEAN regional development program aims to strengthen the regional policy agenda. It supports ASEAN institutions, organizations and networks in addressing shared regional development priorities with a particular focus on areas of mutual interest, such as political and security support, economic growth, and socio-cultural and sustainable development cooperation.
Defence and security
Canada and Malaysia enjoy a robust and expanding defence and security relationship. The two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding on security cooperation in 2013 and regularly collaborate in areas including military capacity building, counterterrorism, and Weapons of Mass Destruction threat reduction, particularly Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear threat response. Canada has trained over 1,000 Malaysian first responders in how to respond safely to various threats, security incidents, and attacks.
Additionally, Malaysia is a beneficiary of the many Canadian regional counterterrorism and anti-crime initiatives in Southeast Asia. These initiatives are addressing, among other things, cyber security, counterterrorism, migrant smuggling, border security, and information sharing among ASEAN member states.
Members of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) have benefitted from Canada’s Military Training Cooperation Program since 1966. Approximately 1000 MAF members have received training in areas including language courses, peace support operations, Women, Peace, and Security, and military professional development.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Malaysia work cooperatively in multilateral fora, such as:
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- The Commonwealth
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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