M'sia PM Will Host Official Visit By Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

PUTRAJAYA, 17 Feb (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will host the official visit by Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday (Feb 20). It will be the first visit to Malaysia by Yingluck after assuming office in August 2011. The Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the two Prime Ministers were scheduled to sign a joint statement on general cooperation between their respective governments. Yingluck was scheduled to visit Malaysia in October 2011 but it was postponed due to massive floods in Thailand. "In conjunction with the visit, the two Prime Ministers will discuss efforts by the Governments of Malaysia and the Kingdom of Thailand to build on the already cordial relationship between the two close neighbours and members of Associantion of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by optimising the existing and potential areas for greater cooperation to bring benefits to both countries and peoples," the statement said. Yingluck will also have an audience with Malaysian King Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'azam Shah at Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur. Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor will also host a dinner in honour of Yingluck in the evening at Seri Perdana here. Thailand is Malaysia’s second largest trading partner in ASEAN. In 2011, total trade between the two countries was valued at US$22.95 billion. -- BERNAMA