Japan's ambassador to Malaysia Makio Miyagawa has been appointed as a member of the International Islamic University of Malaysia's (IIUM) board of governors for two years, effective Nov 1.

In a statement today, IIUM rector Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said Miyagawa, 53, was presented with a letter of appointment at the Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 19.

The appointment is in line with the university's constitution to have a representative for institutions, bodies and honourable entities on its board of governors.

"His appointment as one of the members of the board of governors will help IIUM to work with leading Japanese universities in various fields.

"It will also open up opportunities to IIUM to form collaborations, especially in the fields of technology and the halal industry, which is practical and in line with the 'Look East' policy that can be used as a benchmark for Malaysia-Japan bilateral relations in education," the statement read.

Miyagawa has been Japan's ambassador to Malaysia since 2014, and holds a doctorate in international relations and law from Oxford University.

Malaysia's relationship with Japan was strengthened by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his first stint as premier, when he introduced the 'Look East' policy in 1982.

- Bernama