NAJIB, ROSMAH HAVE AUDIENCE WITH EMPEROR AKIHITO AND EMPRESS MICHIKO

From Khairdzir Yunus

TOKYO, April 20 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and
wife, Rosmah Mansor, had an audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress
Michiko at the Imperial Palace Monday.

The couple arrived at the Imperial palace at about 1.45pm local time (12.45
Malaysian Time) where they were met on arrival by the Grand Master of Ceremonies
of the Imperial Palace Takekazu Kawamura.

The Prime Minister and his wife are currently on a four-day official visit
to Japan at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

Earlier, they were accorded the official welcoming ceremony at the South
Yard of the Japanese Prime Minister's office, Sori Kantei.

They were met on arrival by Hatoyama and his wife, Miyuki.

The national anthems of both countries were played and Najib also inspected
the Guard-of-Honour.

Also present were Information Communication and Culture Minister
Dr Rais Yatim, who is also acting Foreign Minister, and his wife,
Masnah Rais as well as Malaysian Ambassador to Japan Shaharuddin Md Som.

Najib then made a courtesy call on the President of the House of Councillors
Satsuki Eda at the National Diet Building. Also present was its vice-president
(Ms) Akiko Santo.

Later in the afternoon the prime minister visited the JFE Engineering's
Recycling Plant located at the Kawasaki eco town, some 40 minutes' drive from
here.

He was given a briefing about the plastic bottle recycling plant and later
toured the plant accompanied by the Mayor of Kawasaki City Takawa Abe and
President & CEO of JFE Engineering Group Sumiyuki Kishimoto.

Najib later held a bilateral meeting with Hatoyama in the evening after
which both prime ministers signed a Joint Statement and gave a Joint Press
Conference.

Najib and Rosmah then attended the official dinner at Sori Kantei hosted by
the Japanese prime minister.

-- BERNAMA