PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be on his official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 6th till 9th March and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 9th till 11th March 2021.
The visit to the two countries will be the Prime Minister’s first official visit since assuming office on 1st March 2020.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said, Muhyiddin will be the first foreign Head of Government to be invited by His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to undertake an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia following the historic Al Ula Conference held on 5th January 2021.
“The significance of the visit to Malaysia and Saudi Arabia among others is to further strengthen the existing bilateral ties and explore new areas of cooperation with the view to elevating the partnership to a more strategic level.
“The proposals include the establishment of High Level Strategic Committee (HLSC) at the Foreign Minister’s level. The HLSC is set to pave the way for regular consultations between the two countries in multiple sectors such as international political security issues, post COVID-19 economic recovery, Hajj and Umrah matters, food security and palm oil trade,” said the statement.
The elevating of partnership includes forging greater collaboration in the field of science and technology which will serve the economic and strategic interests of both countries.
This includes the proposal to establish the Malaysia-Saudi Tech Innovation Centre which will provide a platform to encourage collaboration between both countries in the development of smart cities, artificial intelligence and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0).
The statement added, in Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Muhyiddin will perform Umrah in Makkah followed by Ziarah in Madinah from 6th to 8th March at the invitation of His Majesty King Salman.
Meanwhile the Prime Minister’s official programme will take place at Al-Yamamah Palace, Riyadh on 9th March 2021. This includes an official welcoming ceremony, virtual audience with His Majesty King Salman and meeting with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, signing ceremony of Memoranda of Understanding and official luncheon.
In UAE, Prime Minister’s official programme will take place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on 10th march 2021. This includes meetings with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai.
The significance of the visit to Malaysia and UAE among others is enhancement of bilateral cooperation in addressing current and future challenges including collaboration in the post pandemic recovery phase through technology, innovation and economic partnership.
The two countries will also strengthen cooperation in the halal industry including collaboration between halal certification bodies of the two countries.
The two countries will also collaborate in the establishment of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Chair at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia (ISIS). The Chair is set to promote greater understanding and contact between the two countries while promoting the ideals of good governance, environment responsibility and interfaith tolerance, espoused by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. –Malaysia World News
