PM Najib To Address United Nations General Assembly

From Jamaluddin Muhammad NEW YORK, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Addressing the United Nations General Assembly will be the highlight of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's visit to the United States of America starting Saturday (Sunday in Malaysia). Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said Friday Najib was scheduled to deliver Malaysia's national statement at the General Debate of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, here, on Sept 26. The prime minister was expected to, among other things, share the country's economic transformation programmes and garner support for Malaysia's candidature for a non-permanent member seat in the United Nations Security Council, he said. On the international front, he said, Najib may touch on the country's condemnation against efforts to change the leaders of some legally-elected Islamic countries through illegal means as well as on the Malaysian Airlines (MAS) flights MH370 and MH17 tragedies. Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor are scheduled to arrive in this city Saturday night (Sunday morning in Malaysia). Anifah told the Malaysian media here that Najib had been invited by the New York Academy of Sciences to be one of the key speakers at the international launch of the Global STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Alliance, here, on Sept 22. The Global STEM Alliance is designed to connect students from around the world through a collaborative digital platform and social learning network. During the event, which will be held at the United Nations headquarters, Rosmah would be receiving the STEM Hero Award for her contribution to early childhood education and development in Malaysia, he said. The following day, Anifah said, Najib would participate in the United Nations Climate Summit 2014 at the United Nations headquarters. The prime minister would also deliver a statement to outline Malaysia's efforts and views in combating global climate change before going to Washington D.C. on the same day to deliver a keynote address at Georgetown University, he said. Anifah said the prime minister would attend the Annual Biotechnology International Advisory Panel (Bio-IAP) Meeting on Sept 24 in New York where he was expected to deliver opening remarks. Najib was then scheduled to chair the 4th Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) Meeting at the New York Academy of Sciences, here, he said. The foreign minister said the meetings were in line with the prime minister's transformation agenda to bolster Malaysia's capability in science and innovation, and to provide the strategic direction for the development of the biotechnology industry in Malaysia. In the evening of the same day, Najib would host a dinner with the Malaysian diaspora here as part of the government's outreach programme with overseas Malaysians who were residing, studying and working in the United States. On Sept 25, Najib is scheduled to meet with business leaders at the Investors Roundtable Session organised by Bursa Malaysia here, and he would also host a business luncheon for senior US business executives at the event. Anifah said that later that day, Najib would deliver a keynote address at the Malaysia-US Business Forum here to promote Malaysia as an attractive destination for investment. On the same day, Najib was also invited to attend the Open-Ended Meetings of the Commonwealth Heads of Government on CHOGM Reform in the afternoon. In line with the government's efforts to encourage youth volunteerism as encapsulated in the "1Malaysia for Youth" (1M4U) initiative, both Najib and Rosmah would be participating in the 1M4U Volunteer Activity, here. Anifah said Najib would be holding bilateral meetings with several world leaders to exchange views on issues of mutual concern and to strengthen bilateral ties. The foreign minister said he (Anifah) would deliver a statement at the Annual Coordination Meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers and chair the OIC Contact Group on Sierra Leone. Anifah will also participate in various meetings and conferences, including the OIC Committee Meeting on Palestine, Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting, D-8 Council of Ministers Meeting, informal Asean Foreign Ministerial Meeting and Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Ministerial Meeting. Najib is scheduled to leave here for home on Sept 28. --BERNAMA