EMIR OF QATAR ON STATE VISIT TO MALAYSIA FROM TUESDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (Bernama)-- Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Khalifa Al-Thani
will be making a two-day state visit to Malaysia starting Tuesday, his first
state visit to the country.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) said the Emir of Qatar
was in Malaysia in October 2003 on a working visit to attend the 10th
Organisation of the Islamic Conference Summit in Putrajaya.

The Emir of Qatar will be accompanied by his consort Sheikha Mozah Nasser Al
Missned and a delegation comprising ministers, senior government officials and
prominent members of the Royal Court.

He is scheduled to have an audience with the Malaysian King Tunku Mizan
Zainal Abidin at the Istana Negara.

He will also have a restricted meeting with Prime Minister Najib Razak to
discuss bilateral, regional and international issue.

Wisma Putra said the visit would further enhance existing excellent
relations between Malaysia and Qatar in various areas such as trade, investment,
defence, tourism, education, banking, finance, the halal industry and Islamic
matters.

"In addition, the visit would provide an opportunity for the leaders of both
countries to discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern to
Malaysia and Qatar," it said.
-- BERNAMA