TOKYO: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak met Japanese business leaders from various industries at a lunch hosted by Hiroto Izumi, special advisor to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, here today.
During the 90-minute session, they discussed possible areas of closer business ties between Malaysian and Japan companies, Malaysian officials said.
Among those present was a top official of the East Japan Railway Company. JR East operates all of the Shinkansen high-speed rail lines, north of Tokyo.
Japan is pitching the Malaysian and Singapore governments to opt for the Shinkansen for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail link.
Najib, who is due to meet Abe later today for bilateral summit talks following an official welcoming ceremony, told the business leaders that Malaysia always considered Japan as a "close friend and partner."
He said Malaysia has benefitted from Japanese presence in Malaysia and in the region.
He asked Japanese companies to look for more opportunities in Malaysia especially in areas such as renewable energy, green and high-technology.
He said areas of priority included continued investments in infrastructure and human capital. He made no specific mention of high-speed rails.
The business leaders who attended the luncheon were Mitsubishi Corp Chairman Mikio Sasaki, Sumitomo Corp Chairman Kazuo Omori and East Japan Railway Company President and CEO Tetsuro Tomita.
Others business leaders who attended were:
- Mitsui Co. Ltd CEO Tatsuo Yasunaga
- NEC Corp Chairman Nobuhiro Endo
- Taisei Construction Chairman Takashi Yamauchi
- Japan Gas Co Ltd CEO Michiaki Hirose
- Japan Petroleum Exploration Co Ltd CEO Hideichi Okada
- IHI Corp CEO Tsugio Mitsuoka
Earlier today, Najib was called on at his hotel by top officials of the Japan-Malaysia Parliamentary Friendship Association.
The nine-member delegation was led by the association chairman Keiji Furuya, who is a member of the Japanese House of Representatives.
Among those attended were Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
Najib was also called on by Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Chairman and CEO Hiroyuki Ishige. Also present were MIDA CEO Datuk Azman Mahmud and Matrade CEO Datuk Dzulkifli Mahmud.
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Najib will later proceed to the Grand Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office for the bilateral meeting.
Najib, who will be accorded a red carpet welcome, will inspect a guard-of-honour by the Japanese Self Defence Force. The 'Negaraku' and the Japanese national anthem will be played by the brass band.
Najib and Abe will then proceed to the main meeting room for a 30-minute bilateral meeting. Each side will be accompanied by 11 ministers and officials.
Both leaders will then witness the signing of an agreement to hand over two Japanese Coast Guard used offshore patrol vessels to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
The MMEA is expected to use the boats to patrol Malaysian waters in the South China Sea.
Najib and Abe will also witness the exchange of memoranda to enhance cooperation between Jetro and Mida and Matrade, respectively.
Both leaders will then hold a joint press conference around 5pm Tokyo time.
Abe and his wife Akie Abe will later tonight host a dinner for Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor at the prime minister’s official residence.
They will be joined by seven other invitees from each side.