Malaysian FM arrives to discuss bilateral issues

Malaysian foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah. Photo: UNB
Malaysian foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah. Photo: UNB

Malaysian foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah arrived in Dhaka on Saturday on a three-day visit to discuss wide-ranging bilateral, regional and international issues including the Rohingya issue, reports UNB.

The Malaysian foreign minister, now on his first trip to Bangladesh since assuming office last year, will have a bilateral meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen on Sunday, said a foreign ministry official in Dhaka.

The ministers will discuss issues of mutual interest including trade, manpower export and Rohingya issues, he said.

The Malaysian foreign minister is likely to visit the Malaysian field hospital and several Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar district during his visit.

"This visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen the existing warm and friendly relations between the two countries and further boost bilateral cooperation as well as reaffirm Malaysia's continued support to the government of Bangladesh in providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas," read a statement issued by the Malaysian foreign ministry.

Bangladesh and Malaysia have substantial trade and investment ties. The bilateral trade was valued at US$2.37 billion in 2018, a significant increase of 35.4 per cent from US$1.75 billion in 2017.

From January to April 2019, according to Malaysian news agency Bernama, trade increased by 2.7 per cent to US$793.1 million compared to US$771.5 million in the corresponding period in 2018.

Bangladesh is Malaysia's second largest trading partner among South Asian countries.