Ismail Sabri, Singaporean PM meet in Tokyo, discuss nations' interests

SHAH ALAM – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri met his Singaporean counterpart, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, this morning during their official working trips to Japan.

The meeting between the two prime ministers lasted for 30 minutes, with the discussion focusing on the interest of both nations.

Both top guns were scheduled to deliver their speeches at Nikkei’s 27th International Conference, along with several other leaders tomorrow, where Ismail Sabri would deliver a keynote address on the Future of Asia in Tokyo themed “Redefining Asia’s Role in a Divided World”.

Ismail Sabri is currently on a six-day official working trip to Japan until May 28 as part of the effort to strengthen Malaysia-Japan bilateral ties.

Among his agenda during the visit include empowering Malaysia’s Look East Policy and promoting the Keluarga Malaysia concept.

This is the first visit for Ismail Sabri after being appointed as Malaysia’s prime minister on Aug 21 last year.

He is scheduled to meet with his counterpart, Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida on Friday.

On April 20, Ismail Sabri and Kishida held a Japan-Malaysia Summit telephone talk, during which the two leaders discussed various regional and international issues.

Among the matters to be discussed during the meeting are Malaysia-Japan bilateral ties, including cooperation related to the Covid-19, reopening of borders and the setting up of Tsukuba University in Malaysia.

Both would also witness the signing of three memoranda of cooperation between Malaysia and Japan.

They are the memoranda of cooperation between the Malaysian government and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry of Japan on the Aircraft Industry, Basic Framework for Information Partnership for Proper Operation of the System Pertaining to Foreign Human Resources with the Status of Resident of “Specified Skilled Worker”, and Cooperation in the Field of Youth and Sports between the government of Malaysia and the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry of Japan.

Ismail Sabri would also hold meetings with corporate leaders and businessmen from several leading companies in Japan to attract more foreign direct investment to Malaysia and strengthen bilateral ties.

Among the companies were already well established in Malaysia, such as Mitsui Fudosan, Mitsubishi Power and Marubeni.