UNITED Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Sheikh Abdullah Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Malaysia yesterday for a two-day official visit.

Zayed, who was accompanied by ministry officials, is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Anifah Aman at his office in Putrajaya. 

The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on issues of mutual respect, a statement from Wisma Putra said.

Two memoranda of understanding between the two governments are expected to be signed during the visit. 

Zayed is scheduled to visit Prime Minister Najib Razak and Special Functions Minister Hishammuddin  Hussein.

Wisma Putra said in the the statement that UAE was the leading trade partner for Malaysia in West Asia. It said that from January to September this year, total bilateral trade grew by 24% to RM19.98 billion, compared with RM16.11 billion in the same period last year. 

Total trade volume between Malaysia and UAE in 2016 was RMM22.27 billion, with total export at RM12.58 billion and import at RM9.69 billion. – Bernama, November 17, 2017.