AMMAN - Jordan's King Abdullah II said Sunday that he planned on visiting Malaysia later this month to attend an Arab-Asian business forum aimed at bolstering cooperation between the private sectors.

The king made the announcement during talks here with visiting Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, a statement by the royal court said.

The king said he would visit Malaysia during the second half of February to attend an economic forum that will bring together Arab businessmen and their Asian counterparts, which is being placed under his patronage, it said.

The Jordanian monarch said such events were important to develop ties between Asian and Arab countries, at the same level of ties between Arab states and Europe. - AFP