WORKING VISIT OF

YAB TUN DR. MAHATHIR MOHAMAD PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

TO THE 18^TH SUMMIT OF THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT (NAM)

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN 25-26 OCTOBER 2019

 

YAB Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, will lead Malaysia’s delegation to the 18^th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 25 to 26 October 2019.

 

YAB Prime Minister will be accompanied by his spouse, YABhg. Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Hj Mohd Ali; Minister of Foreign Affairs YB Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah; and senior government officials.

 

This will be the first appearance by YAB Tun Dr. Mahathir at the NAM Summit as the 7^th Prime Minister of Malaysia. The last time YAB Prime Minister addressed NAM Summit was when Malaysia hosted the 13^th NAM Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2003.

 

The 18^th NAM Summit will be hosted by the Republic of Azerbaijan, as the incoming Chair for the term 2019-2022. The theme for the Summit is “Upholding the Bandung Principles to ensure concerted and adequate response to the challenges of the contemporary world”. Azerbaijan will take over the Chairmanship from Venezuela who has led NAM from 2016 to 2019.

 

The NAM Summit is held every three years. It is a forum for 120 NAM Member States to discuss issues of importance in the field of political, security, development, social and others, as well as to exchange views in finding the best solutions to address current global and regional issues.

 

At the 18^th NAM Summit, YAB Tun Dr. Mahathir is scheduled to deliver a statement during the General Debate on 25-26 October 2019. YAB Prime Minister’s statement is expected to highlight the importance of NAM to stand united in working together in addressing common challenges in a globalized world. YAB Prime Minister is also expected to underscore the importance of the Movement to remain neutral and to respect the founding principles of NAM as enshrined in the Bandung Principles.

 

YAB Prime Minister is also scheduled to have bilateral meetings with his counterparts during the 18^th NAM Summit to discuss matters of mutual interest. Such meetings are expected to strengthen our bilateral relations with other countries and enhance understanding on pertinent regional and global issues.

 

Malaysia became a NAM Member State in 1970. Malaysia’s participation in the 18^th NAM Summit is important as it reflects our continuous commitment to the Movement. It also enables Malaysia and other developing countries to have a unified voice in various global and regional issues.

 

 

 

PUTRAJAYA

24 October 2019