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# Malaysia

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Learn More								U.S. Relationship																									These are excerpts from the U.S. Relations With Malaysia																			-  												U.S.-Malaysia Relations											 
-  												U.S. Assistance to Malaysia											 
-  												Bilateral Economic Relations											 
													U.S.-Malaysia Relations													The U.S. established diplomatic relations with Malaysia in 1957, following its independence from the United Kingdom, but has had a consular or commercial presence in the area comprising modern day Malaysia since the 1800s. The U.S. and Malaysia elevated the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership in April 2014. Today, Malaysia is a significant regional and global partner for theThe U.S. established diplomatic relations with Malaysia in 1957, following its independence from the United Kingdom, but has had a consular or commercial presence in the area comprising modern day Malaysia since the 1800s. The U.S. and Malaysia elevated the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership in April 2014. Today, Malaysia is a significant regional and global partner for the U.S., and the two countries share a diverse and expanding partnership in trade, investment, security, environmental cooperation, and educational and cultural relations. Economic ties are robust, and there is a long history of people-to-people exchanges. Malaysia has a diverse democracy and is an important partner in U.S. engagement with Southeast Asia. The two countries cooperate closely on security matters, including counter-terrorism, maritime domain awareness, and regional stability and participate frequently in bilateral and multilateral training, exercises, and visits.Collapse U.S.-Malaysia Relations															Read more about U.S.-Malaysia Relations																												U.S. Assistance to Malaysia													U.S. assistance to Malaysia focuses on education, exchanges, cultural heritage preservation, counterterrorism, non-proliferation, and security cooperation. The U.S. Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program in Malaysia is among the largest in the world, helping improve the English language skills of thousands of Malaysian secondary school students. Exchange programs promote engagement with secondary school and undergraduate students, Fulbright Scholars, agricultural fellows, andU.S. assistance to Malaysia focuses on education, exchanges, cultural heritage preservation, counterterrorism, non-proliferation, and security cooperation. The U.S. Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program in Malaysia is among the largest in the world, helping improve the English language skills of thousands of Malaysian secondary school students. Exchange programs promote engagement with secondary school and undergraduate students, Fulbright Scholars, agricultural fellows, and participants of sports and cultural programs. In 2014 President Obama announced additional exchange programs, grant opportunities and fellowships for youth ages 18 – 35 under the Young Southeast Asian Young Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). There are over 6,000 alumni of Department of State-sponsored exchange programs in Malaysia. Since 2001, the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) has supported 10 projects to support the preservation of cultural heritage in Malaysia. The U.S. supports Malaysia’s counterterrorism efforts through information sharing, capacity building programs for law enforcement and judicial authorities, and assistance to improve immigration security and border controls. The U.S. also works with the Malaysian government and civil society actors on programs to counter violent extremism. Non-proliferation assistance aims at enhancing Malaysia’s ability to enforce its laws on shipments and trans-shipments of controlled munitions, dual-use commodities, and weapons of mass destruction and related commodities. Security cooperation and training builds capabilities among Malaysia’s armed forces and coast guard, allowing it to take on an expanded international role, including peacekeeping operations.Collapse U.S. Assistance to Malaysia															Read more about U.S. Assistance to Malaysia																												Bilateral Economic Relations													The U.S. and Malaysia meet frequently to discuss bilateral trade and investment issues and to coordinate approaches on APEC, ASEAN, and the WTO. Bilateral trade in goods with the U.S. was $50.2 billion in 2017. Malaysia is the United States’ 19th largest trading partner and the second-largest trading partner among the 10 ASEAN members in Southeast Asia. The U.S. isThe U.S. and Malaysia meet frequently to discuss bilateral trade and investment issues and to coordinate approaches on APEC, ASEAN, and the WTO. Bilateral trade in goods with the U.S. was $50.2 billion in 2017. Malaysia is the United States’ 19th largest trading partner and the second-largest trading partner among the 10 ASEAN members in Southeast Asia. The U.S. is Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner. U.S. exports to Malaysia include machinery, aircraft, agricultural products, optic and medical instruments, and iron and steel. U.S. imports from Malaysia include machinery, agricultural products, and optic and medical instruments. The U.S. continues to hold the largest stock of foreign investment into Malaysia, with several new investments in 2015. Reported U.S. foreign direct investment in Malaysia is led by the manufacturing, banking, and oil and gas sectors. Malaysian foreign direct investment in the U.S. is led by the real estate, gaming, biotechnology and wholesale trade sectors.Collapse Bilateral Economic Relations															Read more about Bilateral Economic Relations															Integrated Country Strategies
The Integrated Country Strategy is the four-year strategy articulating U.S. priorities in a given country. The Chief of Mission leads the strategy.
View Integrated Country StrategiesInvestment Climate Statements
The Investment Climate Statements analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses and provide information on the business climates.
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The Fiscal Transparency Report analyzes government transparency and identifies needed changes to improve public spending accountability.
View Fiscal Transparency ReportDiscover More2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices2022 Report on International Religious Freedom2023 Trafficking in Persons Report
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COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries
Since July, 2021 the United States has donated **1,000,350** safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Malaysia. This includes 1,000,350 Pfizer doses. Of the 1,000,350 vaccine doses, 100% were donated through bilateral agreements.

The United States is committed to leading an international and coordinated effort to accelerate access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to meet global needs. The United States is working with other governments and partners including COVAX, Caricom, and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to protect communities from COVID-19 and apply lessons from this pandemic to enhance health security now and in the future.

Learn more about our work Delivering Vaccines and on COVID-19 Recovery.
More Vaccine Deliveries HighlightsMarch 21, 2024
Notice of Funding Opportunity for NGO Programs Supporting Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Thailand, Malaysia, Nepal, and India
February 13, 2024
Ambassador Murray’s Travel to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore 
February 9, 2024
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: International School of Kuala Lumpur: 2024 Special Needs Profile
December 19, 2023
Imposing Sanctions on Those Supporting Iran’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Production
December 15, 2023
The U.S. APEC 2023 Host Year Elevated Stakeholder Voices
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