By Ahmad Fuad Yahya, NNN-BERNAMA
Moscow : Abdullah Ahmad Badawi arrives here Monday for his first official visit to Russia as Malaysian Prime Minister to enhance bilateral relations, particularly in the field of economics and trade.
The visit, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of Malaysia-Russia diplomatic relations, will provide the opportunity for the two countries to also expand their co-operation in education, energy, science and high technology.
The two countries are also expected to discuss international issues, including developments in Iran and North Korea and matters related to the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) and the Asean-spearheded East Asia Summit which Russia has expressed interest to join.
According to the programme, Abdullah will have a meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Tuesday, followed by a meeting with their delegations. He will also hold talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov at the White House, near the Kremlin, the same day.
Later, Putin will host a dinner in honour of Abdullah at the Kremlin. Abdullah will also meet Malaysian students in Russia.
On the third day of his visit, Abdullah will be conferred an honorary doctorate degree by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and he will also address the Malaysia-Russia Business Forum here.
The prime minister will be accompanied on the visit by his wife, Jeanne Abdullah, and a 200-member delegation, which includes Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin, Higher Education Minister Mustapa Mohamed and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Jamaludin Jarjis.
The chief ministers of Kedah and sabah states, Mahdzir Khalid and Musa Aman, respectively and 80 members from the private sector are also in the delegation.
Diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Russia were established in 1967 and Malaysia declared its recognition of the Russian Federation as the successor of the Soviet Union on Dec 31, 1991.
Both countries maintain political dialogues, regular exchanges of messages at the highest level and between heads of the foreign ministries on current bilateral issues and the most urgent international problems.
Last year, total trade between Malaysia and Russia reached 1.133 billion USD with the trade balance in Malaysia’s favour. Malaysia exports mainly electrical and electronic household appliances, palm oil and palm oil products, plastics, cocoa powder and cocoa butter to Russia.
Malaysia’s imports from Russia are mainly chemical fertilizers and other chemical products, rolled metals, metal products, machines and equipment.
Both countries also work together in the promotion of scientific and technical ties and it has, among others, resulted in seeing the first Malaysian micro-satellite orbited by a Russian launcher in September 2000. In December last year, Malaysia’s MEASAT-3 satellite was also launched by a Russian rocket.
Malaysia is to send its first astronaut to the International Space Station in October under the Malaysian-Russian space co-operation project.