LONDON: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has arrived in the United Kingdom (UK) on Sunday (June 2) to begin a four-day working visit.
He arrived at Heathrow Airport at 8.30pm local time (3.30am Malaysia) and was greeted by Malaysian High Commissioner to the UK and Northern Ireland, Datuk Zakri Jaafar, as well as senior embassy officials and government agency officers.
The working visit aims to strengthen Malaysia-UK relations by focusing on areas of technical and vocational education and training (TVET), tourism and investment.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, is expected to meet representatives of leading institutions such as University College London, deliver a public lecture on the direction of the country's TVET, and interact with students sponsored by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).
He is scheduled to launch the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign for the UK market on Tuesday to boost tourism promotion activities, as well as attract investors from Europe to Malaysia.
The visit will also serve as an important platform to strengthen the strategic value of Malaysia-UK relations, expand diplomatic ties and open up more opportunities for cooperation for the people and the country.
The UK is an important trading partner for Malaysia, with total trade reaching RM16.80bil (US$3.68bil) in 2024.
On June 4, Ahmad Zahid will depart for Geneva on his series of international working visits. - Bernama
