Malaysian Ambassador to Egypt Datuk Ku Jaafar Shaari underlined close ties binding Egypt and Malaysia.

Malaysia considers Egypt as its strategic ally, he added in exclusive statements to MENA Wednesday.

Egypt is a pivotal country and a main player in the Middle East and the African continent, he added.

He further said that Malaysia attaches great importance to promoting cooperation with Egypt in the various fields.

The Egyptian government adopted a range of serious reforms, he said, adding that he is happy due to the successive achievements of the Egyptian government, especially at the African level.

The ambassador, meanwhile, noted that the volume of trade between Egypt and Malaysia went up during the first quarter of the current year.