Russia is working to increase the number of its citizens traveling to Malaysia, with the ambassador calling current visitor figures unsatisfactory.
“We are actively working with our Malaysian partners to raise this number,” Russian Ambassador to Malaysia Nail Latypov told BFM radio.
He expressed clear dissatisfaction with the low level of tourism from Russia, noting that only about 130,000 Russians visited Malaysia in the first half of this year. In contrast, neighboring Thailand welcomed roughly 2 million Russian tourists during the same period. A key focus of current efforts is establishing direct flights between Moscow and Kuala Lumpur to make travel more convenient.
Asked why Malaysians still require visas to enter Russia, the ambassador explained that lifting the requirement would require a formal bilateral agreement, which is currently still in draft form. Latypov clarified that Russia cannot unilaterally drop visa rules based solely on reciprocity. Russian citizens, however, can visit Malaysia visa-free.
Russia and Malaysia have maintained diplomatic relations since 1967. Bilateral ties strengthened after the Cold War, with both countries sharing similar views on various international and regional issues. Cooperation continues through platforms such as ASEAN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Most recently, talks were held in Moscow between President Vladimir Putin and Malaysia's King, Sultan Ibrahim, in August 2025.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russia-ASEAN Business Council
Based on materials from TASS