MALAYSIAN PM NAJIB ARRIVES IN LAOS FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT

From Ahmad Kamil Tahir

VIENTIANE, June 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak arrived here Wednesday night for a two-day official visit.

The special aircraft carrying Najib and wife Rosmah Mansor
touched down at the Wattay International Airport here at 7.45pm local time.

The prime minister was greeted on arrival by Laos' works and transport
minister Sommad Pholsena who is the minister-in-attendance, Laos deputy foreign
minister Hiem Phommachanh and Malaysian Ambassador to Laos Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

This is Najib's first visit to the country since becoming the prime minister
in April last year.

Also in Najib's delebation are International Trade and Industry Minister
Mustapa Mohamed, Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled
Nordin and Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Some 50 members of the Malaysian business community are also in this Laotian
capital to explore business and investment opportunities in the country.

They are expected to hold a dialogue with their counterparts during a
business seminar arranged by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation
(Matrade) and Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).

-- BERNAMA