By Jamaluddin Muhammad
RIYADH, March 9 (NNN-Bernama) — In the spirit to further strengthen bilateral ties between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, the arrival of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Noorainee Abdul Rahman here Monday was greeted by the kingdom’s Crown Prince.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud personally was at the King Khalid International Airport here to welcome Muhyiddin at 8.25 pm Monday (1.25 am Tuesday in Malaysia).
The decision to receive Muhyiddin at the airport was not in the Crown Prince’s original itinerary.
Muhyiddin is on the third day of his four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the ruler King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
The visit is aimed at strengthening traditional areas of cooperation and forging greater partnership in new areas, such as new technology and innovation, as well as energy collaboration.
Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was also present to welcome the prime minister.
Muhyiddin flew in from Madinah after visiting the tomb of Prophet Muhammad SAW and the Nabawi Mosque.
The prime minister, who arrived in this country Saturday for an official visit, landed in Makkah first to perform the Umrah and was accorded the rare privilege of entering the Kaabah.
Muhyiddin is scheduled to meet King Salman virtually from the Al-Yamamah Palace, here, tomorrow.
Hishammuddin had said earlier that the 85-year-old King Salman had never met foreign leaders face-to-face since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Therefore, having a virtual meeting is already considered extraordinary,” Hishammuddin.
The prime minister will also be meeting Prince Mohammed, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, at the palace before concluding the official visit.
— NNN-BERNAMA