TANZANIA TO HOST NEXT SOUTHERN AFRICA INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE IN 2013

By P. Santhia and Choong En Han

PUTRAJAYA June 21 (Bernama) -- Tanzania will host the next Southern Africa
International Dialogue (SAID) in 2013, Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Tun
Razak announced Tuesday at the end of the three-day Langkawi International
Dialogue 2011 here Tuesday.

Commenting on the announcement, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said it
was an honour and a pleasant surprise for him.

"We didn't come prepared for that, but when requested, we thought it is our
duty to play our part," he said.

Kikwete said he had fruitful discussions during the three-day LID and lauded
the premier for giving the leaders "a breath of fresh air" during the leaders'
retreat and field visits.

"The prime minister had organised it so well.. he had made the meeting more
interesting and engaging, and taking over from him will be a tall order indeed,"
he told reporters Tuesday.

Using the smart partnership principle as guidance, Kikwete hoped he would be
able to deliver a more engaging dialogue at the SAID by closely working with
other smart partners in the network.

The next SAID will be held in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania,
with a bustling seaport that provides access to one of the most important sea
routes on earth.

He said Tanzania welcomed Malaysian investors to participate in the
country's manufacturing, mining and agricultural industries.

Expressing his regret for not being able to visit places of interest in
Malaysia due to the tight schedules, he said, "It is a good excuse for me to
come back."