Najib catches up with Obama at Apec summit

Ties that bind: Najib meeting Obama at the Apec meeting in Lima, Peru, where he noticed the similarities in the ties they wore.

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak caught up with outgoing US President Barack Obama at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Lima, Peru.

“Glad to catch up with President Obama on the side during work at the Apec leaders’ meeting,” he wrote on his official Facebook page.

Najib also noted the similarities in their choice of tie colour. In the photo that accompanied the post, both leaders were seen wearing grey ties.

“Also realised that we wore almost identical ties today. Keep in touch Barack Obama!” the caption read.

“The work at @APEC econs leaders’ meeting continues here, with @BarackObama,” he tweeted.

The Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Saturday and Sunday, the main event for the Apec meeting, was attended by leaders of the 21-member economies.

Najib also shared another photo of him talking to Justin Trudeau.

“Someone tapped on my back and it was a pleasant surprise to see Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau coming over to greet me.

“Canada was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with us and I believe that we can further enhance growth in our bilateral trade relations,” he said.

At a press conference with Malaysian journalists, Najib said he held bilateral talks with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Saturday, which touched on Australia’s request to seek Malaysia’s cooperation in relation to the influx of irregular migrants.

“He wants to stem this problem of irregular migrants that is related to human trafficking,” he said after attending the first day of the Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

“Among them are the exchange of intelligence reports and interdiction, which is to take action if these irregular migrants passed through territorial waters.”

Najib said Australia also wanted to enhance cooperation in handling serious terrorist threats. He said this region might face new threats if Mosul fell into the hands of Iraq and those fighting under the Islamic State banner might return to South-East Asia.

Najib also met Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, who invited Petronas to look into the possibility of developing onshore natural gas areas for LNG.