ID :
54927
Sun, 04/12/2009 - 00:36
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/54927
The shortlink copeid
NAJIB DOESN'T FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE IN DEBUT AS PM AT ASEAN SUMMIT
PATTAYA, April 11 (Bernama) -- Najib Razak says he does not feel uncomfortable by the fact that he is attending the Asean Summit for the first time in his capacity as prime minister as he had been attending many such meetings in the past in different capacities.
Najib, who became premier on April 3, said he was fortunate that former
prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had given him a lot of exposure and
opportunities in the past, including the last Apec Summit where many world
leaders also attended.
"I don't feel anything awkward or uncomfortable (over here). I just feel
quite pleasant. In fact, when I described myself as a new kid around the block,
they (the other leaders) said, 'No, no, you are not a new kid on the block,
we have known you for a long time'.
"So, it is a source of great comfort that I am a familiar figure, a familiar
face to all of them. I know them for a long, long time," he told the Malaysian
media here after meeting Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei on the sidelines of
the 14th Asean Summit and related summits, here, Friday night.
Leaders from nine other Asean countries and their dialogue partners from
China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India are attending the
summits.
Najib, who arrived here with his wife Rosmah Mansor Friday afternoon, said
even the Sultan of Brunei said that they had known each other for many years.
Furthermore, he said, the current Asean leaders had been around for a while
and he had met them before in his previous capacity.
On his bilateral meeting with Sultan Hassanal, he said both countries had
agreed to explore cooperation in medical tourism, education and energy.
In this regard, Najib said people in Brunei were being encouraged to choose
Malaysia as a destination for medical tourism and education as the Malaysian
facilities were of high quality and cost-competitive.
On outstanding issues like the boundary with Brunei, he said they would be
discussed by a working group and a proper statement would be issued after the
matter had been finalised.
Referring to issues that were of interest to him at the summits, he said
the
main agenda would be to cope with the global financial and economic crisis.
The report from the recent G20 meeting in London and its impact on this
region will be among the main areas of focus as well as the Chiangmai
Initiative.
Najib said he was happy that China and Japan wanted to contribute more to
the swap arrangement, which had been increased from US$80 billion to US$120
billion.
He also said that his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd had contacted him a
few days ago to say that he was looking forward to a bilateral meeting.
The Malaysian premier said he was also keen to know more about the green
technology that Australia had developed, especially in the field of power
production using coal.
Najib said the issue of Asean's commitment to maritime security in the
region would be re-affirmed as this was of great interest to the Japanese and
South Koreans.
-- BERNAMA
Najib, who became premier on April 3, said he was fortunate that former
prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had given him a lot of exposure and
opportunities in the past, including the last Apec Summit where many world
leaders also attended.
"I don't feel anything awkward or uncomfortable (over here). I just feel
quite pleasant. In fact, when I described myself as a new kid around the block,
they (the other leaders) said, 'No, no, you are not a new kid on the block,
we have known you for a long time'.
"So, it is a source of great comfort that I am a familiar figure, a familiar
face to all of them. I know them for a long, long time," he told the Malaysian
media here after meeting Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei on the sidelines of
the 14th Asean Summit and related summits, here, Friday night.
Leaders from nine other Asean countries and their dialogue partners from
China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India are attending the
summits.
Najib, who arrived here with his wife Rosmah Mansor Friday afternoon, said
even the Sultan of Brunei said that they had known each other for many years.
Furthermore, he said, the current Asean leaders had been around for a while
and he had met them before in his previous capacity.
On his bilateral meeting with Sultan Hassanal, he said both countries had
agreed to explore cooperation in medical tourism, education and energy.
In this regard, Najib said people in Brunei were being encouraged to choose
Malaysia as a destination for medical tourism and education as the Malaysian
facilities were of high quality and cost-competitive.
On outstanding issues like the boundary with Brunei, he said they would be
discussed by a working group and a proper statement would be issued after the
matter had been finalised.
Referring to issues that were of interest to him at the summits, he said
the
main agenda would be to cope with the global financial and economic crisis.
The report from the recent G20 meeting in London and its impact on this
region will be among the main areas of focus as well as the Chiangmai
Initiative.
Najib said he was happy that China and Japan wanted to contribute more to
the swap arrangement, which had been increased from US$80 billion to US$120
billion.
He also said that his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd had contacted him a
few days ago to say that he was looking forward to a bilateral meeting.
The Malaysian premier said he was also keen to know more about the green
technology that Australia had developed, especially in the field of power
production using coal.
Najib said the issue of Asean's commitment to maritime security in the
region would be re-affirmed as this was of great interest to the Japanese and
South Koreans.
-- BERNAMA
