A red-carpet welcome
Visiting Saudi Arabia Ruler accorded warm reception
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia was accorded a state welcome at Parliament Square at the start of His Majesty’s four-day state visit to Malaysia.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V greeted King Salman, who is making his maiden state visit to Malaysia, upon his arrival at the square yesterday.
Present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Cabinet members.
The welcoming ceremony began with the rendition of the national anthems of Saudi Arabia and Malaysia by the Royal Malay Regiment band, followed by a 21-gun salute.
King Salman then inspected a guard-ofhonour from the Royal Malay Regiment.
Najib had earlier welcomed the King, who is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, at the KL International Airport.
Najib greeted King Salman, who donned a flowing cream robe and dark glasses, with a warm embrace on the tarmac as the Saudi King embarked on the visit at the invitation of Sultan Muhammad V.
King Salman was joined by Najib for the 45-minute car ride to Parliament Square for the official welcoming ceremony.
During the event, members of the Malaysian Cabinet and diplomatic corps were introduced to the visiting King.
His Majesty was accompanied by a 600-strong delegation, comprising members of the royal household and Cabinet ministers, for the visit until March 1.
King Salman graced a state banquet at Istana Negara last night, hosted in his honour by Sultan Muhammad V.
The event was marked by the conferment of a state award on King Salman, who ascended the throne on Jan 23, 2015.
His Majesty is to travel to Putrajaya today for talks with Najib on matters of mutual interest.
They will preside over the signing of a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on cooperation in several areas as well as haj and umrah.
King Salman will grace an official luncheon in Putrajaya hosted by Najib at Seri Perdana.
His Majesty will also receive an honorary degree from Universiti Malaya today.
Among other highlights of the visit are the convening of the Malaysia-Saudi Arabia Business Forum, a get-together with muftis, and a gathering of Saudi Arabian students and Malaysian students sponsored by the oilrich kingdom.
An MoU on cooperation will also be signed between Malaysian and Saudi Arabian oil companies. The International Islamic University of Malaysia will confer an honorary degree as well as a lifetime outstanding achievement award on King Salman.
The last state visit by a King of Saudi Arabia to Malaysia was in 2006 by the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The late King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud made a state visit to Malaysia in 1970. — Bernama