A tight schedule awaits Prime Minister in New York

NEW YORK: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who will be leading the Malaysian delegation to the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from Sept 25 to 29, will have a tight schedule in New York.

Najib is expected to arrive in New York with his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor early Wednesday morning from San Francisco.

 

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said the prime minister was slated to deliver Malaysia’s national statement at the General Debate of the 68th UNGA on Sept 28, his second time of doing so after the maiden in 2010.

 

"The prime minister will also be delivering another important statement at the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Nuclear Disarmament which outlines Malaysia’s views on efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons that continue to threaten world security," he said.

 

Anifah told a news conference at the Malaysian Permanent Mission to the United Nations office in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday that while here, Najib would also take the opportunity to sign the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which was opened for signature since last June.

 

"The ATT will foster peace and security by putting a stop to destabilising arms flows to conflict regions. To date, the ATT has been signed by 85 member states and requires the ratification of 50 states to come into force," he said.

 

Anifah said the prime minister had been invited to deliver a keynote address entitled, "A Rebalancing Act: Asia’s Place in The New World Order", at a special private high-level dinner by the Asia Society on Thursday.

 

Asia Society is a leading educational organisation dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States in a global context.

 

An important aspect of the prime minister’s visit to New York will be his participation in the Global Investment Symposium 2013, a meeting with US fund managers and a session with US investors right after his arrival in New York, at the renowned Harvard Club.

 

Najib will also be attending a luncheon with the US-Asean Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce.

Anifah said the symposium and meetings would promote Malaysia as an attractive destination for investment.

 

Other highlights of Najib's visit to New York is the invitation by the Council of Foreign Relations to speak with CNN renowed personality, Fareed Zakaria.

 

In the conversation with Zakaria, the prime minister is expected to highlight the Global Movement of the Moderates entitled, "Moderation: The New Modernity".

 

Najib is also scheduled to visit The New York Academy of Science as part of the programme by the Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council of Malaysia.

 

The visit will include a briefing and discussion on developing Malaysia into a science, technology and innovation centre in collaboration with the prestigious academy.

 

During his visit, the prime minister also will be having bilateral meetings with a few world leaders and scheduled to perform Friday prayers at the New York Islamic Center on 96th Street.

 

"Our prime minister also will be hosting a dinner with the Malaysian community in New York on Saturday and launching the IM4U outreach programme.

 

"The IM4U is the brainchild of the prime minister to encourage youth volunteerism and contribute to transforming Malaysia into a better place to live, work and play," he added.

 

Najib is expected to depart for Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

 

Meanwhile, Anifah said he would be participating in various meetings and conferences including the Asia Cooperation Dialogue Foreign Ministers Breakfast Meeting, informal Asean Ministerial Meeting, Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Committee on Palestine and the United Nations Alliance of Civilization (AoC), Informal Asean-US Ministerial Meeting and annual coordination meeting of the OIC.

 

He will also engage in numerous bilateral meetings with his counterparts as part of the effort to lobby for support for Malaysia’s candidature to the UN Security Council for a two-year term starting 2015.

 

(Source: www.nst.com.my)