PUTRAJAYA, Nov 13 — The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will be undertaking a working visit to Japan from November 15 to 17 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The Foreign Ministry said Najib’s programme in Tokyo includes a meeting with Abe and a courtesy call by Japan’s Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister, Keiichi Ishii.

“The meetings are expected to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two countries as well as regional matters and issues of mutual interest,” it said in a statement, here today.

The statement said the prime minister will also receive courtesy calls from the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Japan External Trade Organisation, Hiroyuki Ishige, and members of the Japan-Malaysia Parliamentary Friendship Association, to exchange views on bilateral cooperation and regional issues.

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This upcoming visit will be the fourth working visit by Najib to Japan, it said.

The Foreign Ministry said this visit will continue the momentum of high level discussions between Malaysia and Japan on issues and matters at the bilateral, regional and international levels.

“Malaysia and Japan continue to enjoy close cooperation in key areas such as economy and trade, investment, science and technology, higher education, human capital development, culture, air services and taxation,” it said.

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In 2015, Japan was Malaysia’s fourth largest trading partner globally with total bilateral trade recorded at USD32.77 billion (RM127.4 billion).

Japan continues to be the largest foreign investor in the manufacturing sector with more than 1,400 Japanese companies currently operating in Malaysia.

In 2015, a total of 60 projects with Japanese participation were approved with investments amounting to RM4 billion, which are expected to generate 5,201 job opportunities. — Bernama