PM arrives in Washington ahead of Asean-US special summit
WASHINGTON DC: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob arrived here Tuesday for a four-day working visit that includes meeting with United States President Joe Biden and Asean leaders.
The prime minister arrived at Joint Base Andrews here at 8.16pm (8.16am Wednesday, Malaysia time), and was greeted on arrival by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.
Arriving at a hotel later, Ismail Sabri was welcomed by Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan and senior Malaysian officials.
The prime minister will join Biden, US Vice President Kamala Harris and other Asean leaders at the two-day Asean-US Special Summit here, starting Thursday (Friday in Malaysia).
President Biden will host a dinner for the Asean leaders at the White House here on Thursday.
This will be followed by the US President meeting with Asean leaders at the US Department of State, the venue of the special summit, the following day.
The special summit marks the 45th anniversary of the AseanUS dialogue relationship and the second special summit hosted by the US president in this country a er then-president Barack Obama welcomed Asean leaders in Sunnylands, California in February 2016.
On the same day, Ismail Sabri together with Asean leaders will participate in a discussion with Vice President Harris at the State Department.
The Malaysian Prime Minister is scheduled Thursday to meet US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and US Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai, as well as American captains of industries and the US-Asean Business Council and Chamber of Commerce.
The prime minister will also meet the Malaysian diaspora here at an Aidilfitri Keluarga Malaysia gathering on Wednesday (Thursday in Malaysia).