PM ARRIVES
Najib to meet Trump at White House today
WASHINGTON DC
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak arrived here yesterday morning for a meeting with United States President Donald J. Trump at the White House today.
Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, were received on arrival by Malaysian ambassador to the US Tan Sri Zulhasnan Rafique at the Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
The meeting, at the invitation of Trump, marks the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties between Malaysia and the US.
Najib is expected to seek the US’ support to end the violence against the Rohingya in Myanmar.
Kuala Lumpur has reiterated its commitment to fighting for the rights of the Rohingya and is sending a humanitarian mission to help refugees fleeing alleged suppression by the Myanmar military.
Zulhasnan told Malaysian journalists that Najib’s visit was expected to reaffirm the MalaysiaUS strategic partnership as well as set the tone for future bilateral and international collaboration.
Najib and Trump are scheduled to hold a meeting at the Oval Office, followed by a delegation meeting with senior members and advisers of the Trump administration, including Vice-President Mike Pence, State Secretary Rex Tillerson, Defence Secretary General James Mattis, Chief of Staff General John Kelly, National Security Adviser Lieutenant-General H.R. McMaster and senior adviser Jared Kushner.
Najib is also scheduled to have a meeting with the chairman and members of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, a 200-year-old body instrumental in shaping US foreign policy, at the Capitol building.
He will deliver a speech at a luncheon organised by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Rosmah will visit the Feynman School in Rockville, Maryland, to share best practices in terms of developing curricula for gifted children.
She will meet 17 students from Permata programmes studying in US universities.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said Najib’s visit would have significant positive effects on the country.
He said despite cynical comments from some quarters, the visit was a special occasion.
For one, he said, it was a recognition of Malaysia’s standing as a strategic and important nation in Asia and Southeast Asia.
“This visit is extremely significant to Malaysia. There is no disputing this fact,” he said.
Mustapa said Trump’s invitation to Najib marked only the second for an Asean leader after Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in June.
“This shows the recognition given to Malaysia’s position regionally and globally.”
He added that it was “additional points” for Najib to be invited by Trump.