Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's two-day working visit to Malaysia is set to further enhance and solidify long-standing relations between the two nations.

In December last year, Khan announced an eleventh-hour cancellation of his trip to attend the KL Summit, in what was alleged to be the result of diplomatic arm-twisting of the cash-strapped South Asian nation which has received billions of dollars in Saudi Arabian aid.

Set to arrive here tonight, the former cricket star is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya tomorrow morning.

Khan's second visit here since his ascension to the prime minister's post in August 2018 would include a high-level delegation from Islamabad, including Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Defence Production Minister Zubaida Jalal.

Khan is also scheduled to give a talk at the Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies in Kuala Lumpur on regional peace and security.

The two leaders share great camaraderie as both have similar views in many areas, such as on combating corruption and issues concerning Muslim ummah like Islamophobia, Palestine and the Rohingya's plight.

Their meeting is expected to discuss matters of mutual interest and a follow up on Dr Mahathir's official visit to Islamabad last March.

During the Islamabad visit, both leaders had agreed to elevate Malaysia-Pakistan relations to a strategic partnership that will mark a new level of bilateral cooperation in the trade of palm oil, agricultural products, retail, halal products, automotive parts, energy, science and technology, and telecommunication investment.

Malaysia and Pakistan also enjoy dynamic economic cooperation since the signing of the Malaysia-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement in November 2007. It encompasses liberalisation in the trade of goods and services, investment, as well as bilateral technical cooperation and capacity building.

Total trade between Malaysia and Pakistan stood at RM5.91 billion in 2018, an increase of 2.5 percent compared to RM5.76 billion in 2017.

Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1957, the two nations have also shared warm and cordial relations and have worked closely in many areas, including at international fora such as the UN, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Non-Aligned Movement.

With a large diaspora of Pakistan nationals here, both countries also share great people-to-people relations. — Bernama