(AFP) Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit Malaysia for two days from Jan 10 as part of his five nation Southeast Asian tour, officials said today.

The Japanese embassy here in a statement said Koizumi would meet his counterpart Mahathir Mohamad to discuss various issues of mutual concern.

The visit would be Koizumi's first trip to Malaysia.

Both the leaders have met three times previously, the latest being the in Brunei for the Asean plus three meeting.

Koizumi who became prime minister in April is expected to have an audience with the new king Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin.

Koizumi was initially scheduled to visit the Southeast Asian nations from Sept 16 to 22, but the trip was postponed after the deadly terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, which left more than 3,000 dead.