Malaysia, Brunei to Hold 21st Annual Leaders' Consultation Thursday

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- The Pan Borneo Highway project and cooperation in defence, tourism as well as the oil and gas sector are among the key issues expected to be discussed at the 21st Malaysia-Brunei Annual Leaders’ Consultation here Thursday. Prime Minister Najib Razak is scheduled to arrive here late Wednesday evening for the meeting with the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at Istana Nurul Iman, Thursday. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by several cabinet ministers including Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Works Minister Fadillah Yusof and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. Also joining the delegation are Sabah state Chief Minister Musa Aman and Sarawak state Chief Minister Dr Abang Johari Openg. The Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei Ghulam Jelani Khanizaman said Malaysia and Brunei enjoy warm and cordial bilateral ties. According to him, trade between two countries from January to July this year totalled RM2.69 billion. He was speaking at a media conference at the Malaysian High Commissioner's office here Wednesday evening. In terms of tourism, he said 1.4 million tourists from Brunei visited Malaysia last year and they made up the fifth largest group of visitors to Malaysia. He said this year more than 1.5 million tourists from Brunei were expected to visit Malaysia and he was confident the figure could be achieved because as at August, 1.15 million tourists from Brunei had visited Malaysia. He said the Annual Leaders’ Consultation is a very important mechanism in the effort to strengthen relations between the two countries in various fields and levels for their mutual benefit. -- BERNAMA