Mahathir off to southern Africa

Mahathir off to southern Africa

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
left early yesterday for a week-long visit to South Africa,
Namibia and Mozambique, the Bernama national news agency
reported.

It said Mahathir, who left for Johannesburg, will hold talks
with acting South African President Thabo Mbeki and open
Malaysia's new chancery building in Pretoria.

He will also meet Malaysian investors in South Africa, where
Malaysia has large investments in property, petroleum development
and hoteling, as well as launch a Malaysian food and cultural
festival.

Mahathir is to visit Namibia on Saturday for a four-day trip
where he is scheduled to deliver a speech at a conference, the
Southern Africa International Dialogue '98.