PUTRAJAYA, Aug 12 — Bangladesh government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, who is on a three-day official visit to Malaysia, was accorded an official welcome at Perdana Putra today.
He arrived at 9am and was greeted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, followed by the playing of both nations’ anthems.
Yunus then inspected a guard of honour mounted by the First Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment, led by Arifudin Mohd Yusof.
Also present were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, foreign diplomats, and senior government officials.
After the ceremony, Yunus signed the guestbook before proceeding to a bilateral meeting with Anwar.
Both leaders are expected to review the progress of bilateral ties, focusing on trade and investment, labour, education, tourism and defence, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest.
Anwar and Yunus will also witness the exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding on defence, energy, strategic and international studies, semiconductor capacity building, and trade promotion.
Tomorrow, Yunus will deliver a public lecture and receive an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Social Business from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
The Nobel laureate will also join a session with members of the Yunus Social Business Centre community and the university network, in a programme jointly organised by UKM.
In 2024, Malaysia-Bangladesh trade rose 5.1 per cent to RM13.35 billion.
Bangladesh is Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner and export destination in South Asia, with key exports including petroleum products, palm oil, and chemicals, while imports comprise textiles, footwear, petroleum products, and manufactured goods.
The visit is expected to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in mutually beneficial areas, building on the strong ties Malaysia and Bangladesh have established since diplomatic relations began in 1972.
