He said the meeting, scheduled in 2021, had been postponed because of Covid-19 restrictions. The last meeting took place in 2020.

The joint commission, which is aimed at enhancing bilateral relations, was set up in 2015.

Earlier today the news agency reported Bala Chandran as saying that the issue of direct flights between St Petersburg or Moscow and Kuala Lumpur would be discussed at the meeting.

Bala Chandran said the Russian private sector had become a lot more interested in Malaysia’s industry, especially in healthcare and medical equipment as well as agricultural exports.

He said the supplying of kenaf to Russia is being discussed by the bilateral economic cooperation commission as well as at the government level.

Kenaf is widely used in the shipping industry for packaging.