Czech Republic president on five-day visit to Malaysia

SEPANG, (Selangor, Malaysia) July 5 (Bernama) -- President of Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus and his wife arrived here Wednesday for a five-day visit to the country. Klaus together with wife Madame Livia Klausová and a delegation were greeted by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Douglas Uggah Embas and Deputy Foreign Minister Richard Riot at the Bunga Raya Complex, KL International Airport yesterday. The visit, a first by the President of the Czech Republic, is at the invitation of Malaysia's king Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah. According to the Foreign Minister's statement, the visit was timely as Malaysia and the Czech Republic (previously Czechoslovakia) commemorated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries last year. During the visit, Klaus will be accorded a state welcoming ceremony followed by a state drive with Tuanku Abdul Halim and Queen Tuanku Hajah Haminah. The king will host a state banquet at the National Palace in honour of the president, and both Klaus and his wife will receive a courtesy call by Prime Minister Najib Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor. Klaus is scheduled to attend a roundtable discussion organised by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) and open the Malaysia-Czech Republic Trade and Investment Forum. On July 6, the president and his delegation will visit Malaysian eastern state of Sarawak where they will attend a dinner hosted by state Governor Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin. In Sarawak, Klaus will visit the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, the Annah Rais Traditional Longhouse and attend a briefing on the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE). Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud will host a dinner for Klaus and his delegation on July 7. Klaus's visit will serve to further strengthen existing relations between Malaysia and the Czech Republic particularly in trade and investment, research and development, green technology, higher education and tourism. -- BERNAMA