Packed Schedule Awaits PM Najib At APEC Meeting In Beijing

From Azlina Aziz BEIJING, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- China is all geared up for the arrival of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders here on Monday with Najib Razak expected to have a tight schedule during his working visit here. The Malaysian prime minister will join other leaders from the grouping's 21 economies to engage in discussions, among others deepening ties and strengthening regional economic cooperation at the two-day 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting (AELM) starting on Monday. Besides attending the AELM, several back-to-back bilateral meetings have been lined up for the premier to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. "There are several bilateral meetings, the most important being between the prime minister and leaders of this year's APEC host, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang," Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainudin told Malaysian journalists covering the APEC conference here Saturday. Also present was Malaysian Ambassador to China Iskandar Sarudin. "The prime minister's schedule at the APEC meeting this time is really packed. He will arrive tomorrow night (Nov 9)," Hamzah said, adding a dinner has been arranged for the prime minister and his wife Rosmah Mansor. Earlier Hamzah, at a two-way meeting with Papua New Guinea (PNG) Minister for Foreign Affairs & Immigration Rimbink Pato, discussed trade cooperation issues especially relating to forestry and oil and gas. In 2013, PNG was Malaysia's 45th largest trading partner with bilateral trade registered at RM2,058.2 million, down 17.7 per cent from RM2,501.4 million in 2012. From January to May 2014, bilateral trade between the two countries decreased 9.4 per cent to RM723.1 million from RM798.2 million in the corresponding period in 2013. Malaysia's investment in PNG in 2013 stood at RM8.1 billion, creating 6,214 jobs for locals. It is estimated that the total invested capital proposed by Malaysian companies from 2007 to 2012 was RM115 billion, with more than 40,000 jobs created. --BERNAMA