PM arrives in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz arrived here Friday on a
three-day visit to Malaysia after wrapping up an official visit to South
Korea.
In Malaysia, the Prime Minister will hold talks with his Malaysian
counterpart, meet former Prime Minister Mahatir bin Muhammad and will be
a keynote speaker at the World Islamic Economic Forum being launched in
the capital Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
In a brief talk with the Malaysian media soon after his arrival, the
Prime Minister said that he would discuss further cooperation between
the two countries, security issues in the region, trade and economic
ties, OIC revitalization and other matters of mutual interest in his
talks with Prime Minister Ahmed Abdullah Badawi.
Prime Minister Aziz said he was looking forward to speak to the Islamic
Forum, saying Pakistan considers it a very important event as it would
gather people from the Muslim Ummah to draw a roadmap for economic
cooperation.
He said by working together, the Islamic countries could leverage their
full economic potential and by working with other countries they could
develop it even further.
Responding to a question, the Prime Minster said he had brought with him
some specific recommendations to take the process of economic
cooperation within the Muslim Ummah forward. This is Prime Minister’s
second visit to Malaysia in less than five months as part of Pakistan’s
East Asia Vision that aims to increase trading ties with the major
economies of the countries in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations) region.
He earlier visited Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Singapore in May this
year. The visit would provide an opportunity to Pakistani and Malaysian
leadership to review their bilateral relations as Pakistan would press
for more active support by Malaysia to help it achieve a full dialogue
partner status with ASEAN. Malaysia had expressed its full support in
this regard during the April Pakistan visit of Prime Minister Badawi.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Aziz together with Malaysian Premier Badawi
will inaugurate Expo Pakistan, a single country exhibition. He would
also address the International Islamic University Malaysia on Sunday on
the topic of “Enlightened Moderation - Way Forward for the Ummah.” The
Prime Minister will also give interviews to Malaysian print and
electronic media. On his way back home on Monday, the Prime Minister
will make a brief stop-over in Thailand and will hold talks with his
Thai counterpart over lunch. —Agencies
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