President Of Czech Republic To Visit Malaysia From July 4-8

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama) -- President of Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus is scheduled to make a five-day state visit to Malaysia beginning this Wednesday. The visit, a first by the President of Czech Republic, is at the invitation of Malaysian King Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah. Foreign Ministry in a statement Monday night said the visit is timely as Malaysia and Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia) commemorated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries last year. Klaus who visited Malaysia in 1996 in his capacity as Prime Minister, will be accompanied by his wife Madame Livia Klausová, Environment Minister Tomáš Chalupa, Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Jiří Schneider, Industry and Trade Deputy Minister Milan Hovorka, government officials, business delegation and media personnel. 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. King will also host a state banquet at (National Palace) Istana Negara in honour of President Klaus. Klaus and his wife are also scheduled to receive a courtesy call by Prime Minister Najib Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor on July 5. He is scheduled to attend a roundtable discussion organised by Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) and opens the Malaysia-Czech Republic Trade and Investment Forum. Klaus and his delegation are also scheduled to visit east state of Malaysia, Sarawak where they will be hosted at a dinner by the Governor of Sarawak Abang Muhammad Salahuddin on July 6. In Sarawak, the delegation will visit the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, the Annah Rais Traditional Longhouse and attends a briefing on the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE). Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud will also host a dinner for Klaus and his delegation on July 7. Klaus's visit will serve to further strengthen existing relations between Malaysia and Czech Republic especially in trade and investment, research and development, green technology, higher education and tourism. The Malaysia-Czech Republic Trade and Investment Forum would also enable Malaysia-Czech private sectors to explore opportunities in areas that are mutually beneficial. Czech Republic was Malaysia’s 13th largest trading partner among European Countries and within Asean, Malaysia was the third largest trading partner of the republic after Thailand and Singapore. In 2011, Malaysia-Czech total trade recorded RM1.7 billion (US$538.08 million), an increase of 59.6 percent from RM1.1 (US$348.7 million) in 2010. Exports to Czech Republic were recorded at RM 1.4 billion (US$ 461.7 million) while imports from the Czech Republic were recorded at RM340.8 million (US$ 111.4 million). Czechoslovakia split to form two separate countries, Czech Republic and Slovakia, on Jan 1, 1993. -- BERNAMA