State welcome for King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud

King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia was accorded a state welcome at Parliament Square upon His Majesty's arrival today for a four-day state visit to Malaysia.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V greeted King Salman Abdulaziz upon his arrival at the square at 11.50 am.

Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The welcome ceremony began with the rendition of the national anthems of Saudi Arabia and Malaysia by the Royal Malay Regiment central band from the Sungai Besi Camp, followed by a 21-gun salute.

READ: King Salman arrives in Malaysia for state visit

King Salman Abdulaziz inspected a guard-of-honour comprising four officers and 103 men of the 1st Battalion Royal Malay Regiment led by Major Azlan Shah Baharum.

The King and his entourage were introduced to the Cabinet ministers and members of the diplomatic corps present at the event.

This is the maiden visit of King Salman Abdulaziz to Malaysia since ascending the throne on Jan 23, 2015. The visit is at the invitation of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

King Salman Abdulaziz is scheduled to have a meeting with Najib and also attend a delegation meeting. He is also scheduled to attend an official reception hosted by the Prime Minister and his wife.

The King and Najib are expected to discuss the progress of bilateral cooperation and improvement in cooperation in the various sectors as well as exchange views on regional issues.

Matters related to the haj and the annual quota of Malaysian pilgrims are on the main agenda, besides strengthening cooperation in several related areas.

The last visit by a King of Saudi Arabia to Malaysia was in 2006, by the late King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Saud. The late King Faisal Abdulaziz Al-Saud made a state visit to Malaysia in 1970.

Saudi Arabia is Malaysia's second largest trading partner in the Middle East, and trade between the two countries saw an increase of 19.8 per cent last year from the previous year and now totals RM13.12 billion.

Universiti Malaya is scheduled to confer an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters on King Salman Abdulaziz on Monday and the International Islamic University of Malaysia, an honorary doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science on Tuesday. - BERNAMA