From Balkish Awang
BEIJING, Sept 3 (Bernama) — Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah arrived here Wednesday for a three-day state visit to China.
The special aircraft carrying Their Majesties touched down at the Beijing Capital International Airport at 4.10 pm (same time in Malaysia).
Their Majesties, who were accompanied by Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, as the minister-in-attendance, were greeted by China’s Vice Foreign Minister Qian Zhongshan, Malaysia’s Ambassador to China Datuk Iskandar Sarudin and China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang.
Tuanku Abdul Halim also took the salute before a guard-of-honour mounted by 36 personnel of China’s Armed Forces.
The Tunku Temenggong of Kedah, Tan Sri Tunku Sallehhuddin Sultan Badlishah, and Their Majesties’ daughter, the Tunku Panglima Besar of Kedah, Tunku Puteri Intan Syafinaz, were also in the royal entourage.
Meanwhile, Iskandar told Bernama and Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) that Their Majesties’ visit was to reciprocate the visit of President Xi Jinping of China to Malaysia in October last year.
He said Their Majesties’ visit was also in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.
He also said that the visit of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong was also aimed at strengthening the ties established more than 700 years ago.
Iskandar said Their Majesties were scheduled to have an audience with Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, as well as attend a state banquet tomorrow at the Great Hall of the People.
Tuanku Abdul Halim will grant an audience to Prime Minister Li Keqiang on Friday.
Iskandar said Their Majesties would also attend a dinner with Malaysians resident in Beijing.
They would leave for Hangzhou on Saturday for a three-day visit.
— BERNAMA
