Najib to attend US-Asean summit in California

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will start a seven-day working visit to Los Angeles, Sunnylands and San Francisco in the United States from tomorrow. The Foreign Ministry in a statement today said Najib is scheduled to participate in the US-Asean Leaders Summit in Sunnylands, California, next Monday. The prime minister is also scheduled to meet with the Malaysian diaspora and students in Los Angeles, and will hold a roundtable meeting with fund managers, captains of industry, as well as visit Apple Inc and Tesla Motors in San Francisco. He will be accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Minister of Foreign Affairs Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and government officials. According to the statement, the purpose of the US-Asean Leaders Summit is to commemorate the elevation of US-Asean dialogue relations to a strategic partnership. It will also serve as an ideal setting for Asean and US leaders to engage in both formal and informal exchanges especially on Asean-US cooperation as well as regional and international issues. The summit programme will be divided into two sessions, namely promoting an innovative, entrepreneurial Asean Economic Community as well as protecting peace, prosperity, and security in the Asia-Pacific region. Asean and US leaders are expected to issue an outcome document highlighting the agreed principles between ASEAN and the US in bringing forward the dialogue relations under the new strategic partnership. Last November, US President Barack Obama invited all Asean leaders to the summit. Malaysia and the US continue to enjoy close and cordial bilateral relations in key areas of cooperation including politics, economy, defence and security. Total bilateral trade for the period of January to November last year was valued at US$30.24 billion, an increase of 10.6% from the corresponding period in 2014, with exports valued at US$17.20 billion and imports valued at US$13.04 billion. The US was the fourth largest trading partner for Malaysia in 2014. – Bernama, February 10, 2016.]]>