Agong grants audience to UAE foreign minister at Istana Negara

Sheikh Abdullah arrived at the palace at 12.50 pm.

After the audience, Al-Sultan Abdullah also hosted a luncheon for Sheikh Abdullah and his delegation, which includes UAE Ambassador to Malaysia Khalid Ghanim Al Ghaith.

Also present were Minister of Foreign Affairs Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir; Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup.

Sheikh Abdullah is in Malaysia for a two-day official visit beginning yesterday.

During the visit, Sheikh Abdullah will hold a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Zambry Abd Kadir to exchange views on various issues, especially in enhancing Malaysia-UAE bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.

This meeting is the follow-up to the recent visit by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council to Malaysia in last month.

The UAE is Malaysia's second-largest trading partner, second-largest export destination and second-largest import source from West Asia.

In 2022, Malaysia's total trade with UAE increased by 73.5 per cent to RM38.73 billion (US$8.79 billion) from RM22.33 billion (US$5.39 billion) the previous year.