Malaysia PM to visit Japan

Malaysia PM to visit Japan

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will make a week-long visit to Japan from Tuesday to explore technologies that could boost industrial development, his office said on Sunday.

His first stop will be Nagoya, where he will see some of the most modern plants owned by Japanese multinationals outside Tokyo, Malaysia's state news agency Bernama quoted a statement from the prime minister's office as saying.

Mahathir's administration has generally maintained a "Look East" development policy modeled on Japan since he came to power in 1981. Malaysia's top-selling national car, Proton, is a result of a joint-venture with Japan's Mitsubishi.

For the week-long visit, the prime minister will be accompanied by his wife, businessmen, diplomats and officials of the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology.