Other News
July 20, 2009 16:56 PM
Najib Ends Five-day Working Visit To Saudi Arabia
From Jamaluddin Muhammad
JEDDAH, July 20 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak departed for home Monday after a five-day working visit to Saudi Arabia which included a meeting with King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, left the Royal Pavilion at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport, here, at 10.20am (Malaysian time: 3.30pm) on board a special aircraft.
The visit was initially scheduled for four days but Najib extended it to accommodate his new schedule.
The prime minister will make a stopover in Abu Dhabi en route home to have an audience with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince General Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan at the latter's personal invitation.
In Saudi Arabia, Najib had an audience with King Abdullah on Saturday at King Abdullah's palace here.
The cordial ties between the two countries and their leaders were reflected in the extension of the meeting from 30 minutes originally to one hour and 15 minutes.
"I did not expect the audience to last one hour 15 minutes as it was originally scheduled for half-an-hour only. It is not easy to get an audience with His Majesty King Abdullah," said Najib.
He said they discussed issues of mutual interest such as the economy, tourism, and religious as well as international issues.
King Abdullah indicated that his country might play a more active role in Islamic banking, Islamic products and services and equity in Malaysia following the recent liberalisation of the Malaysian economy.
During the visit, Najib, Rosmah and their entourage performed the Umrah in Mecca on Saturday.
Najib also took the opportunity to visit the Felda-owned restaurant, Saji, located near Masjidil Haram, Mecca, after performing the Umrah.
The prime minister visited haj facilities in Mecca before joining Malaysians residents there for lunch Sunday.
Islamic Development Bank (IDB) chairman and president Dr Ahmad Mohammed Ali called on Najib here Sunday.
Najib also held dialogues with Malaysian representatives at the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) cecretariat and the IDB as well as the Malaysia-Jeddah Club and Malaysian businessmen operating in this country.
In Medina, Najib performed Friday prayers at Prophet Muhammad's mosque, Nabawi Mosque, and visited the Prophet Muhammad Moussoleum, located beside the mosque.
-- BERNAMA
We provide
(subscription-based)
news coverage in our Newswire service.
