Malaysia’s FM arrives in Baghdad on official visit

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday the arrival of the Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zambry Abd Kadir, to Baghdad.

The spokesperson of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, Ahmed Al-Sahaf, mentioned in a statement that Zambry arrived in Baghdad on a two-day official visit where he will meet with the Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein.

Zambry is expected to follow up on the talks held on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement on July 5.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry explained in a statement that the meeting will be a perfect opportunity for Malaysia to promote bilateral relations with Iraq and to explore new areas of cooperation serving mutual interests.

Zambry is also expected to meet with Iraqi businessmen to explore economic-boosting business opportunities between the two countries.

Earlier in July, the Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, welcomed Malaysia’s decision to reopen its embassy in Iraq, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

Malaysia shut down its embassy in Baghdad in March 2003, during the US invasion of Iraq.

According to Malaysian media outlets, many Malaysians were interested in forging business links in Iraq and had made enquiries at the Iraqi embassy here. Nevertheless, they hesitated or put a stop to their plans when they learned that the Malaysian embassy had been closed for many years.

Re-opening the embassy could help facilitate many different levels of ties and links between Iraq and Malaysia and between the people of the two Muslim countries, especially in fields of trade, investment, education, tourism and culture.