BANGKOK: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad arrived here today for the 35th Asean Summit and Related Summit, which commences on Saturday.
The special aircraft carrying Dr Mahathir and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, touched down at the Military Air Terminal Two, Wing 6, of the Don Mueang International Airport at 4.50pm Malaysian time.
The Prime Minister and Dr Siti Hasmah were greeted upon arrival by Thai Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand Datuk Jojie Samuel.
Dr Mahathir will join his counterparts for the second and final Asean Summit hosted by Thailand as Chair of Asean 2019.
The Prime Minister’s schedule is packed with back-to-back meetings during the three-day summit at the IMPACT Convention and Exhibition Centre here.
The Malaysian delegation includes Saifuddin, International Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister Datuk Darell Leiking, as well as senior government officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, Wisma Putra and MITI.
Dr Mahathir is scheduled to attend at least eight summit meetings with leaders from the grouping and from the region; as well as two bilateral meetings with his Thai counterpart General Prayut Chan-o-cha and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
The bilateral meetings are expected to strengthen Malaysia’s bilateral relations with other countries and enhance understanding on pertinent regional and global issues.
Dr Mahathir will kick off his visit tomorrow with a visit to the Asean Community Showcase themed “Asean Styles: Sharing the Future”; and a tour of the Malaysian exhibition site, which showcases products and services from Malaysia. – Bernama