Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is to begin a two-day official visit to Japan on Wednesday to include talks with his Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi, the official Bernama news agency reported.

Mahathir will also have an audience with Emperor Akihito and meet Japanese finance, economic and trade ministers, the agency said today.

The veteran Southeast Asian Muslim leader is to remain in Japan for several days after the official visit, to address a conference on Islam at the United Nations University in Tokyo.

He will also deliver a keynote address at a seminar on his "Look East" policy, launched in 1982 to promote Japanese and South Korean work ethics among Malaysians. The policy is regarded as a pillar of Malaysia-Japan ties.

Bilateral trade

Bilateral trade between the two countries last year stood at RM99 billion. Japan is Malaysia's second most important trading partner after the United States.

Last year, 17.2 percent of Malaysia's imports came from Japan and 13.3 percent of its exports went to Japan. Japan is also the second largest foreign investor in Malaysia after the US, with five billion ringgit in investments.

Mahathir is expected to return home Dec 16. - AFP