KING GRANTS AUDIENCE TO TIMOR-LESTE PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia granted an audience to Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão at Istana Negara today.

The 30-minute meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim, Foreign Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin and Malaysian Ambassador to Timor-Leste Datuk Amarjit Singh Sarjit Singh.

Xanana Gusmão arrived in Malaysia last night for a three-day official visit, his first after assuming office on July 1, 2023.

Earlier today, he was accorded an official welcoming ceremony at Perdana Putra, Putrajaya, followed by a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as well as Cabinet members, foreign diplomats and senior government officials.

During their meeting, Xanana Gusmão and Anwar discussed bilateral relations and potential areas for cooperation between Malaysia and Timor-Leste.

A joint press conference was held following the meeting, after which Anwar hosted a luncheon in honour of his counterpart at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya.

In 2023, the total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Timor-Leste was US$43.7 million (RM196.7 million).

Malaysia’s exports to Timor-Leste were recorded at US$43.3 million (RM195 million), while imports from Timor-Leste amounted to US$0.4 million (RM1.7 million).

-- BERNAMA