PM Najib arrives in Riyadh for summit with Trump, Muslim leaders

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has arrived in this capital for a three-day working visit including attending a summit with world Muslim leaders and United States President Donald Trump Sunday.

The special aircraft ferrying the Prime Minister landed at the King Salman Airbase here at 1.50pm (6.50pm in Malaysia).

Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor were greeted on arrival by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who is also the Minister with Special Functions, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

Vice Governor of Riyadh Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman and Malaysian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Datuk Zainol Rahim Zainuddin were present to welcome them.

Najib will kick off his Sunday schedule with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who will be calling on him in the morning here.

Later, President of the Presidential Council of the National Accord of Libya Fayez Mustafa will pay a courtesy call on Najib here before the Prime Minister proceeds to the summit's venue, the King Abdulaziz Convention Centre, here.

Najib will join more than 50 Arab and Muslim national leaders together with Trump at the first ever Arab-Islamic-US Summit at the convention centre, named after the first monarch of Saudi Arabia.

Najib is among the leaders, including Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Trump, slated to address the historic meeting, with security and combating terrorism high on the agenda.

He is expected to have an audience with King Salman; Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Naif Al-Saud, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, and Deputy Crown Mohammed Bin Salman Al-Saud, who is also the second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence during the visit.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the inauguration of the Global Centre for Combating Extremist Ideology at Mu'tamarat Nasiriyah here, Sunday.

This is Najib's second visit to Saudi Arabia after his previous visit in March last year.

-- BERNAMA