TOKYO, May 24 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak arrived in the Japanese capital this morning for a three-day official visit that is expected to further strengthen the long-standing bilateral ties between both countries.

Najib, who has a tight schedule during his stay in Tokyo, and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor arrived at the Haneda International Airport on a special flight at 8.25am local time.

They were greeted on arrival by Malaysian Ambassador to Japan, Datuk Ahmad Izlan Idris.

The prime minister and his wife were later received at the Palace Hotel in downtown Tokyo, where he will be staying, by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa, members of the Malaysian delegation and embassy officials.

The official visit, at the invitation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is Najib’s second since taking over the country’s helm in 2009.  Later in the evening today, Najib would attend a cocktail reception with about 250 Malaysian students and community.

During the visit here, Najib will have a tight schedule, with the highlight being an audience with Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace tomorrow.

He will also attend a round table meeting with 34 captains of industries, before holding a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Shinzo Abe.

On Tuesday, Najib will deliver a keynote address at the World Islamic Economic Forum Roundtable before departing to Sendai to end his visit with a dialogue session with students at the Tohoku University.

Japan’s interest to participate in the high speed rail project between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and the second phase of the Look East Policy is expected to be high on the agenda during the visit.

During the visit, Rosmah will also have a separate programme where she is expected to visit the Institute for Radiological Sciences in Chiba, and the Hiyoriyama Memorial Monument. — Bernama