KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin’s official working visit to Japan, which begins today, is expected to bring tangible benefits to the country’s defence while enhancing mutual understanding in addressing regional security challenges.

He said the four-day visit, anchored by the Malaysia-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, aims to strengthen defence ties and expand the scope of cooperation between the two nations.

Mohamed Khaled, who safely arrived at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, said key engagements during the visit include bilateral meetings with Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

“I am also scheduled to attend a ceremony for the signing of grant assistance documents under the Japanese government’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme,” he said in a post on his official Facebook page.

He said the visit woud also include a meeting with Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), as well as a visit to Japanese defence company, Toshiba.

Earlier, Mohamed Khaled was received upon his arrival in Tokyo by Malaysia’s Ambassador to Japan Datuk Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani and Malaysia’s Defence Attaché in Tokyo, Capt Mohamad Fazri Ibrahim.

Also part of the delegation are the Defence Ministry’s deputy secretary-general (Policy) Datuk Mohd Yani Daud and Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Datuk Seri Muhammad Huzaimi Sabri. — Bernama