Malaysian PM Najib On 2-Day Working Visit To South Africa

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Tun Razak will be on a two-day working visit to South Africa beginning Saturday to attend the African National Congress (ANC)'s centenary celebration in Mangaung. He will be accompanied by his wife Rosmah Mansor and several senior government officials. The visit is on the invitation of South African President Jacob Zuma, who is also ANC president, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. Apart from attending the celebration, Najib is scheduled to meet President Zuma, Kenya Vice-President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoko and Free State Province Premier Sekgobelo Elias Magashule. The statement said Malaysia and South Africa enjoyed a warm and long-standing friendship characterised by multi-faceted cooperation. South Africa is also Malaysia's largest trading partner in the African continent. "This visit, which is the prime minister's first to South Africa is a manifestation of the warm sentiments shared between the leadership, government and peoples of Malaysia and South Africa," it said. The statement added that Najib's presence at the centenary celebration demonstrated Malaysia's support for the ANC which fought for the abolishment of apartheid in South Africa. -- BERNAMA