Malaysia rolls out warm welcome for Guinea-Bissau president
PUTRAJAYA: President of Guinea-Bissau General Umaro Sissoco Embaló received an official welcome at the Perdana Putra Complex today.
His arrival was greeted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at 9.00am.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fadillah Yusof, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
Also in attendance were several deputy ministers, senior government officials and diplomats.
Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa, bordered by Senegal to the north and Guinea to the south and east. Its capital is Bissau.
Embaló, who is on a four-day visit, then inspected a guard of honour mounted by three officers and 103 officers of different ranks, led by Major Mohamad Waqiyuddin Abdul Rahman, from the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.
This official visit marks his first visit to Malaysia since assuming office as the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau in February 2020.
Anwar will host Embaló and his delegation which includes the Republic's Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Integration, Soares Sambú, as well as senior officials from the Cabinet at a luncheon today.
Wisma Putra in a statement yesterday said the visit reflects the shared commitment of both Malaysia and Guinea-Bissau to further strengthen bilateral relations and explore new avenues of cooperation, building upon the warm and longstanding ties that have united the two nations.
Malaysia and Guinea-Bissau established diplomatic relations in November 1974.
Bilateral ties between the two countries remain cordial, based on a shared commitment to cooperation on both bilateral and multilateral platforms, including the United Nations (UN), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
In 2024, Malaysia's total trade with Guinea-Bissau reached RM4.1 million, with Malaysian exports amounting to RM4.04 million and imports standing at RM0.06 million.
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