Malaysian FM: We have good relations with Gulf countries

By Nawab Khan BRUSSELS, Oct 18 (KUNA) - The new Foreign Minister of Malaysia Saifuddin Abdullah has underlined that his country maintains good relations with the Arab world and with the Gulf countries.
"We are friends with all our Muslims brothers and sisters in the Middle East. We maintain good ties with all Gulf states," he told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) during an event in Brussels Wednesday evening.
"Our relations with Saudi remains cordial," he said noting that the Malaysian Minister of Education was currently visiting Saudi Arabia, and tomorrow or the day after the Malaysian Haj minister will be visiting Riyadh.
There is a standing invitation from the King of Saudi Arabia to the Malaysian Prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, he said, adding that "our prime minister is inclined to go but the question is about timing, he said.
Saifuddin Abduallh is in Brussels to take part in the Europe-Asia (ASEM) summit on Thursday and the EU-ASEAN summit on Friday.
He spoke on the topic "New Malaysia and its Foreign Policy" organized by the European Institute for Asian Studies in the Belgian capital last evening.
He said that in this globalized world the two regional organizations, the European Union and the Association of South East Asian nations (ASEAN) should boost cooperation to foster global peace and stability.
He proposed the holding of a religious dialogue between the two sides as well as cooperation to tackle rising Islamophobia in Europe and to resolve the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. (end) nk.gta