NAJIB TO ATTEND M'SIA-BRUNEI ANNUAL CONSULTATION

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak will begin a
three-day official visit to Brunei Darussalam Tuesday to attend the 13th annual
consultation with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) said in a statement Monday that Najib would
be accompanied by his wife, Rosmah Mansor.

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman and several other Cabinet ministers, the chief
ministers of East Malaysia states of Sabah and Sarawak, Musa Aman and Abdul Taib
Mahmud, respectively, as well as senior government officials would also be in
Najib's delegation, it said.

On Wednesday, Najib and Rosmah would have an audience with Sultan Hassanal
Bolkiah and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha and Pengiran Isteri Azrinaz Mazhar,
before Najib adjourns for a four-eyed meeting with the sultan, it said.

The two leaders would issue a joint statement at the end of their annual
consultation, it added.

Wisma Putra said Najib would witness the signing of an agreement on
avoidance of double taxation and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on
exemption from tax and permission to work between the two countries.

Najib and Rosmah are also scheduled to attend a state banquet hosted by
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in honour of the visit.

Wisma Putra said bilateral relations between Malaysia and Brunei have always
been close and warm, and both countries have been cooperating closely in various
fields such as trade, education, defence and security.

"The annual consultation provides a platform at the highest level to forge
and enhance mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and
Brunei Darussalam, as well as to exchange views on regional and international
issues of common concern," it said.
-- BERNAMA