KUALA LUMPUR – Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today granted an audience to UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Istana Negara here.
Sheikh Abdullah arrived at the palace at 12.50pm.
After the audience, the king also hosted a luncheon for Sheikh Abdullah and his delegation, which included UAE ambassador to Malaysia Khalid Ghanim Al Ghaith.
Also present were Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir; Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; and Deputy Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup.
The UAE minister is in Malaysia for a two-day official visit beginning yesterday.
During the visit, Sheikh Abdullah will hold a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Zambry to exchange views on various issues, especially in enhancing Malaysia-UAE bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.
This meeting is the follow-up to the recent visit by the Abu Dhabi crown prince and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council to Malaysia last month.
The UAE is Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner, export destination, and import source from West Asia.
In 2022, Malaysia’s total trade with the UAE increased by 73.5% to RM38.73 billion from RM22.33 billion the previous year. – Bernama, June 15, 2023