SUDAN APPRECIATES MALAYSIA'S CONTRIBUTION FOR DEVELOPMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Sudan is grateful for Malaysia's role in
the country's development and hoped it would move towards wider cooperation in
the field of economy, said Malaysian Ambassador to Sudan, Mohd Ashri Muda.

The appreciation was expressed by Sudanese president Omar Hassan Ahmed Al
Bashir during Ashri's courtesy call to the leader recently.

"Besides much help from Petronas, Omar also hopes for friendly cooperation
on economic matters that may be relevant for both nations," he said in a
statement to Bernama, here Tuesday.

Ashri, who was newly appointed as Malaysian Ambassador to Sudan, said he
presented his letter of appointment to Omar at the Republican Palace in Khartoum
on July 31.

In conjunction with the ceremony, Omar received the courtesy call and also
held discussions.

"I conveyed the regards of the King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Prime
Minister Najib Tun Razak, while the Sudanese president stated his pleasure on
the amicable relationship between Malaysia and
Sudan," said Ashri.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmad Karti and Presidential Minister Bakri
Hassan Salih, as well as two officers from the Malaysian Embassy in Khartoum,
Head of Chancery Deddy Faisal Ahmad Salleh and First Secretary Aznol Iswari
Muhammad were also present at the event.