ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Malaysia on Monday on the invitation of his counterpart, Mahathir Mohamad, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.
On his two-day visit, the premier is accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood and Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood.
The delegation was received at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamad Sabu and Pakistan's envoy to Malaysia, Amna Baloch.
This will be Khan’s second visit to the Southeast Asian country – following a trip in November 2018 – since assuming office two years ago.
The two leaders are expected to hold talks, followed by a delegation-level meeting and the signing of different agreements.
“The visit is a sign of robust engagement between Pakistan and Malaysia and the shared commitment to further fortify the strategic partnership between the two countries,” an earlier statement by the Foreign Office said.
Khan was scheduled to visit Malaysia in December 2019 for a summit in Kuala Lumpur but canceled it at the last minute.
PM Mahathir visited Pakistan in March last year as the chief guest at the National Day parade. The two premiers also met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly Session in New York in September 2019.
“Pakistan and Malaysia enjoy close, cordial ties based on commonalities of faith and culture and marked by exceptional mutual trust and understanding,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the FO said that Khan’s visit will provide an opportunity to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and reaffirm Pakistan’s resolve to forge a robust economic relationship with Malaysia and further expand the existing broad-based and long-term cooperation.