NEWS

Najib Arrives In Paris For Four-Day Official Visit

From Leslean Arshad

PARIS , Oct 4 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak arrived here Sunday for his four-day official visit to France which includes meeting top French leaders.
Najib, accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, was received on arrival at the Le Bourget Airport here by Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi and Malaysian ambassador to France Datuk S.Thanarajasingam.
This is Najib's first visit to France and Europe since assuming the premiership in April.
While in France, Najib is scheduled to meet President Nicolas Sarkozy at the president's official residence Elysee Palace and Prime Minister Francois Fillon at the latter's official residence Hotel Motignon to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues.
Najib is also scheduled to address the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (Unesco) general conference on Oct 6.
This is the first time that a Malaysian leader has been invited to deliver a keynote address at the general conference.
Malaysia is a long-standing member of Unesco since 1958. The Paris-based Unesco has 193 members.
Malaysia currently sits on the Unesco executive board. Comprising 58 members with a four-year term of office, the board meets twice a year to examine the work programme for the organisation and corresponding budget estimates.
The prime minister is also scheduled to meet other high-profile personalities including Unesco director-general Irina Bokova, Speaker of the National Assembly, Bernard Accoyer and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) secretary-general Angel Gurria while in France.

Najib will also be attending a breakfast meeting with selected captains of industry.
Several MoUs involving Malaysia's Halal Industry Development Corporation Sdn Bhd and Naza Automotive Manufacturing Sdn Bhd with respective French outfits are scheduled to be sealed here and witnessed by Najib.
Later on Sunday, Najib will meet Malaysian students in France and attend a 1Malaysia Hari Raya Open House. Both events will take place at Pavillon Dauphine in Place du Marechal de Lattre Tassigny.
(This news from BERNAMA, 4 Oktober 2009)