WASHINGTON, DC (May 14): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has described his four-day working visit to the US as a success.
He said the visit had further strengthened the Malaysia-US ties as well as that of ASEAN-US.
“The US is important to Malaysia from the aspects of politics and trade,” he told Malaysian media here on the final day of the visit, which began on Tuesday, May 10 (Wednesday in Malaysia).
The US is the second largest trading partner and fourth largest in terms of investment for Malaysia, he said.
He said meeting with the US leaders and captain of industries had further enhanced the ties.
Ismail Sabri said his engagement with American investors and captains of industries indicated that there are bigger potential investments ahead for Malaysia.
“Many have expressed interest. Some pledged to expand investment, while some are keen to start new investments,” he said.
During the working visit, the prime minister attended the ASEAN-US Special Summit here and met US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other ASEAN leaders at the summit here.
Biden hosted a dinner in honour of ASEAN leaders at the White House on Thursday.
Ismail Sabri also attended a Keluarga Malaysia Hari Raya gathering at a hotel here on Wednesday (Thursday in Malaysia).
Ismail Sabri said he spoke in English when meeting American investors and businessmen.
“[But] I spoke in the national language in the three sessions of the special summit today (Saturday in Malaysia).
“Six ASEAN leaders also spoke in their respective national languages at the summit except Brunei, the Philippines and Singapore,” said Ismail Sabri.
The six ASEAN leaders who used their national language were from Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.
Myanmar, which is under junta rule, was not invited to the special summit.
Ismail Sabri later departed for home at the end of the working visit.
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