Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today held talks in Tokyo with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.

On arrival at the Prime Minister's Office in Nagato-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Mahathir inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by Japanese security forces.

Mahathir, who attended the 24th International Conference on the Future of Asia here on Monday, is on a three-day working visit to Japan.

He leaves for home Tuesday afternoon.

According to Bernama, Mahathir has invited Japan to partner Malaysia in the development of the Southeast Asian country.

He extended the invitation in a meeting with leaders of major Japanese economic organisations.

He said the new government in Malaysia which he led would be business friendly.

"We are not going to have too many bureaucratic hindrances or procedures that would deter foreign investors," he said.