PM NAJIB ARRIVES IN TOKYO FOR 17TH INTERNATIONAL NIKKEI CONFERENCE

TOKYO, May 26 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak arrived here Wednesday night to attend the prestigious 17th Nikkei International Conference where he will deliver a keynote address on Thursday.

It will be on building stronger ties and greater growth in Asia and the keys to overcoming the region's challenges.

Accompanied by his wife Rosmah Mansor, he touched down at the Narita International Airport at about 9pm local time where he was met on arrival by Malaysian ambassador to Japan Shaharuddin Md. Som and embassy officials.

Later, he was received at the Imperial Hotel in downtown Tokyo where he is staying, by Tsuneo Kita, the president and chief executive officer of Nikkei Incorporated, the international media group which has been organising the high-profile event since 1995.

This will be Najib's first address at the conference since becoming
prime minister in 2009.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, is expected to extend Malaysia's support and sympathy to Japan which is still reeling from the adverse effects of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear fallout in March this year which killed thousands of people and affected hundreds of thousands more.

The prime minister will also outline measures, whereby Malaysia and
Japan can further increase trade and investment linkages.
-- BERNAMA