Najib arrives for official visit to Cambodia

PHNOM PENH May 9 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak arrived here this evening to begin his three-day official visit to Cambodia.

The premier and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, were greeted upon arrival at the Phnom Penh International Airport here at 6.50pm (Malaysian time: 7.50pm) by Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia Datuk Pengiran Mohd Hussein Mohd Tahir Nasruddin were also present at the airport to welcome them.

This is Najib”s first official visit to this country after assuming office in April last year, and the visit, among others, is aimed at enhancing the bilateral ties and trade between the two countries.
He is scheduled to begin the second day of his visit by attending the wreath-laying ceremony at the Independence Monument before calling on his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen, and hold bilateral talks at the Council of Ministers here tomorrow.

Najib will then hold a dialogue with Malaysian investors and businessmen in Cambodia at a hotel here, before Hun Sen joins him at the Malaysia-Cambodia Business Forum and luncheon at the same hotel.

Both leaders will then witness the signing of six business agreements worth US$1 billion (US$1 ~ RM3.27) there.

The five business agreements are between private sectors from both countries while another is between a Malaysian company and a Cambodian government agency.

Najib is also scheduled to visit the Hello Axiata Operation Centre here, a Malaysian-Cambodian telecommunication joint-venture company, and later visit the construction site of the new complex of the Malaysian Embassy here.

Meanwhile, in a separate function here tomorrow, Rosmah will visit the Kuntha Bopha IV Hospital and the Bun Rany Hun Sen High School.

The prime minister and his wife will conclude their second-day visit by attending the official dinner hosted by Hun Sen and wife Bun Rany at a hotel here.

On the final day, Najib will have an audience with King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace here in the morning.

The visiting premier will also call on the President of the National Assembly Heng Samrin at the National Assembly here, and President of the Senate Chea Sim at the Senate House here.

Najib and wife are scheduled to leave Phnom Penh International Airport for home at 11.30am (Malaysian time: 12.30pm) on Tuesday.

— BERNAMA