Malaysia's PM plans meetings with Bush

Malaysia's PM plans meetings with Bush

MALAYSIA: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is planning to meet U.S. President George W. Bush and the leaders of Britain and France during visits to the United States and Europe later this month, officials said on Sunday.

Abdullah's foreign tour is part of a plan to "introduce him to world leaders" after he succeeded former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who retired last October after 22 years in power, said Abdullah's spokesman Azhar Osman.

Abdullah is expected to meet Bush at the White House on July 18, before traveling to Europe for talks with French President Jacques Chirac on July 21 and British Prime Minister Tony Blair the following day, Azhar told The Associated Press.

Their discussions would likely focus on bilateral ties and Malaysia's role as the current chairman of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference, the world's largest Islamic grouping, and the Non-Aligned Movement, comprising 116 mostly developing nations, Azhar said. --AP