KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): Malaysia and Japan are set to confirm their cooperation in strengthening semiconductor supply chains at a meeting later this week, according to Japanese daily The Mainachi.

In a report on Tuesday, the daily cited a government source as saying that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are expected to agree to work together in various fields, ranging from decarbonisation, digitalisation and 5G mobile communication system to cybersecurity capabilities during their planned summit on Thursday.

This as Japan seeks to bolster ties with emerging and developing countries, collectively referred to as the Global South, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

Malaysia will take the Asean chair next year.

The report said that the Japanese and Malaysian leaders are likely to reaffirm the agreements at the 11-member Asia Zero Emission Community (Azec) meeting, including an endeavour to pursue decarbonisation through "diverse" and "practical" pathways in the fast-growing Asean region, according to the source.

It said Kishida is also certain to convey Japan's interest in conducting bilateral joint coast guard drills with Malaysia, while sharing concerns with Anwar over China's "unilateral attempts to change the status quo" in the East and South China seas, citing the source.