KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today granted an audience to the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Istana Negara here.

Sheikh Abdullah arrived at the palace at 12.50pm.

After the audience, Al-Sultan Abdullah also hosted a luncheon for Sheikh Abdullah and his delegation, which includes UAE Ambassador to Malaysia Khalid Ghanim Al Ghaith.

Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir; Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup.

Sheikh Abdullah is in Malaysia for a two-day official visit beginning yesterday.

During the visit, Sheikh Abdullah will hold a bilateral meeting with Zambry to exchange views on various issues, especially in enhancing Malaysia-UAE bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.

This meeting followed the recent visit by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council to Malaysia last month.

The UAE is Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner, second-largest export destination and second-largest import source from West Asia.

In 2022, Malaysia’s total trade with UAE increased by 73.5 per cent to RM38.73 billion from RM22.33 billion the previous year. — Bernama