M'SIAN DPM'S VISIT TO FRANCE PAVES WAY FOR IMPROVED BILATERAL RELATIONS

PARIS, June 29 (Bernama) -- The three-day working visit by Deputy Prime
Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to France begining Monday will pave way for
improved bilateral relations and trade between both countries, Malaysian
Ambassador to France, S. Thanarajasingam said.

He said Muhyiddin's visit will be the first high-level visit by a Malaysian
government leader to France since the swearing in of the new government
leadership headed by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

The visit, a first by Muhyiddin as Deputy Prime Minister and Education
Minister will enhance cooperation in various fields particularly education and
training, research and development, trade and investment, he told Malaysian
reporters here.

While here, Muhyiddin will hold meetings with the French Education
Minister Xavier Darcos, Unesco director general Koichiro Matsuura,
Malaysia-France Friendship Group president Jean-Marie La Guen and French
Business Confederation International president Jean Burelle.

Thanarajasingam said while here Muhyiddin will hold dialogue with some
1,000 Malaysians in France, including about 450 students studying at various
institutions of higher learning.

Muhyiddin is expected to explain to them the concept of 1Malaysia and
various current issues in Malaysia.

On trade between both countries, Thanarajasingam said Malaysia is France's
second largest trading partner among Asean countries.

Malaysia's total trade with France in 2006 was valued at US$4.26bil with
exports amounting US$2.17 bil.

For Jan-Aug 2007, Malaysia's bilateral trade with France totalled US2.9bil,
with exports valued at US$1.37bil and imports US$1.53bil.

-- BERNAMA