Najib to attend US-ASEAN Leaders Summit in Sunnylands

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will make a seven-day working visit to Los Angeles, Sunnylands and San Francisco, United States (US) from tomorrow until Feb 17.

The Foreign Ministry in a statement today said Najib is scheduled to participate in the US-ASEAN Leaders Summit in Sunnylands, California, on Monday and Tuesday (15 and 16 Feb).

The prime minister is also scheduled to meet with the Malaysian diaspora and students in Los Angeles.

He is also scheduled to hold a roundtable meeting with fund managers, meet with captains of industry, as well as visit Apple Inc and TESLA Motors in San Francisco.

During the visit, the prime minister will be accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Minister of Foreign Affairs Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and government officials.

According to the statement, the purpose of the US-ASEAN Leaders Summit is to commemorate the elevation of US-ASEAN dialogue relations to a strategic partnership.

It will also serve as an ideal setting for ASEAN and US leaders to engage in both formal and informal exchanges especially on ASEAN-US cooperation as well as regional and international issues.

The summit programme will be divided into two sessions namely promoting an innovative, entrepreneurial ASEAN Economic Community as well as protecting peace, prosperity, and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

The ASEAN and US leaders are expected to issue an outcome document highlighting the agreed principles between ASEAN and the US in bringing forward the dialogue relations under the new strategic partnership.

During the 3rd ASEAN-US Summit in Kuala Lumpur in November last year, US President Barack Obama had invited all ASEAN Leaders to the US-ASEAN Leaders Summit.

Malaysia and the US continue to enjoy close and cordial bilateral relations in key areas of cooperation including politics, economy, defence and security.

Total bilateral trade for the period of January to November last year was valued at USD30.24 billion, an increase of 10.6 percent from the corresponding period in 2014, with exports valued at USD17.20 billion and imports valued at USD13.04 billion.

The United States was the fourth largest trading partner for Malaysia in 2014.