<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The new Malaysian ambassador to Spain, Haznah Md Hashim, presented her credentials to the Director General of Protocol, Adrián Martín Couce, according to diplomatic sources who spoke to <em>The Diplomat</em> and the Malaysian Embassy in Madrid.</strong></h4> Haznah Md Hashim is the second woman to serve as Malaysia's ambassador to Spain, the Embassy confirmed. The ceremony took place last Friday, November 21, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The following day, she met with the Malaysian diaspora in Madrid. The new ambassador joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2001. Among other positions, she was Malaysia's High Commissioner to Bangladesh (2020-2024) and Undersecretary of the Americas Division since 2024. Haznah Md Hashim was appointed ambassador to Spain last September. Spain established diplomatic relations with Malaysia on May 12, 1967. According to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relations between the two countries are good and have strengthened in recent years within the framework of the external action of the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The opening of the Spanish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysian Embassy in Madrid, both in 1985, were the first important steps in relations between the two countries. The Spanish Economic and Commercial Office in Malaysia was established in February 1990, and the new chancery was inaugurated in 2012. Over the years, there have been several high-level visits, including those of King Azlan Muhibuddin Shah of Malaysia to Spain in July 1992 and King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain to Malaysia in 1995. Spain and Malaysia maintain a High-Level Bilateral Dialogue between the Directors General for Geographic Affairs of both Ministries of Foreign Affairs. The sixth consultative session took place in Kuala Lumpur in June 2025. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares met with his Malaysian counterpart, Mohamad Haji Hasan, on the sidelines of the EU Indo-Pacific Forum held in Brussels on February 2, 2024.
