Dutch PM ends official visit to Malaysia

Rutte (left) with Najib during the Dutch Prime Minister's official visit here. - Bernama

SEPANG: The Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte has ended his one-day official visit to Malaysia, and is now on his way to Australia.

Rutte and his delegation departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport, here at 7.25pm flight on MH0143.

Present at the airport to bid them farewell was Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin.

Earlier, Rutte and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak held bilateral discussions on the latest developments and exchanged views on the Malaysia Airlines MH17 tragedy.

This was followed by a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's office in the Perdana Putra building, Putrajaya.

Rutte also met with the Malaysian team involved in the MH17 recovery operation and attended an official luncheon at the Prime Minister's official residence, Seri Perdana.

According to Wisma Putra, Rutte's visit also provided an opportunity for him and Najib to exchange views on bilateral matters as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. - Bernama