Leadership change brings new opportunities for US, Malaysia - Envoy

December 15, 2008 8:44 pm by pna
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 15 — The United States (US) and Malaysia will see new opportunities rising in their bilateral ties with the coming in of new administrations in the two countries next year, US Ambassador to Malaysia James R. Keith said.

He said that new opportunities would rise not only in the fields of economic and trade but also in terms of interaction in the social and political arena, both regionally and globally.
He described the leadership change in both countries as the coming in of "new teams", with Barack Obama's inauguration as the new President of the United States taking place on Jan. 20, and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak taking over the helm of the Malaysia's administration from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in March.

"I think it is important that we both see this as an opportunity," he told reporters at a media roundtable on the US-Malaysia bilateral trade at the US Embassy here.

He said in a number of areas, Malaysia's voice carried a lot of weight such as in the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation . (PNA/BERNAMA)