Visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today received a red carpet welcome at Cambodia’s Peace Palace, in conjunction with his three-day official visit to the kingdom.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and wife Bun Rany greeted Mahathir and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali upon arrival at the palace at 10am before the national anthems of Malaysia and Cambodia were played.

Then Mahathir inspected a guard of honour mounted by Cambodian Armed Forces.

Earlier, despite the rain, hundreds of students and locals lined up at the entrance of Peace Palace to welcome Mahathir and Siti Hasmah.

Mahathir is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Hun Sen (photo). 

The leaders will discuss initiatives to strengthen Malaysia-Cambodia bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest to the two countries.

Both leaders are expected to witness the signing ceremony of the Agreement on the Elimination of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance, and the Memorandum-of-Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism.

Later today, Mahathir will pay a courtesy call to acting head of state and president of Cambodia, Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdey Say Chhum, and attend a dialogue with Malaysian businesspersons and investors, involving 28 Malaysian companies operating in Cambodia.

This evening, Mahathir and Siti Hasmah will be attending an official dinner hosted by Hun Sen.

In 2018, Malaysia’s total trade with Cambodia was valued at US$558.5 million (RM2.36 billion), an increase of 22.6 percent from 2017. 

Malaysia is currently the fourth largest source of FDI for Cambodia, with a total of US$2.73 billion (RM11.53 billion).

- Bernama