Malaysian PM on tour

Malaysian PM on tour

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
departed on Sunday for a tour that will take in China and two
Russian republics, officials said.

Mahathir, accompanied by his wife Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali,
will first make a three-day visit to the Russian autonomous
republic of Khabarovskii at the invitation of president Ishaev
Victor Ivanovich.

Mahathir is expected to hold bilateral discussions with the
republic's leaders and visit aircraft and ship-building plants.

On Aug. 18 Mahathir is scheduled to arrive in China for a
three-day stay at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Zhu
Rongji.

It will be Mahathir's fifth visit to China and is timed to
coincide with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China.