TOKYO: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's second visit to Japan in six months will be brief but one packed with engagements with captains of industry in the world's 4th largest economy.
The working trip comes less than a week after the Anwar-led Malaysian delegations to Qatar, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan secured over RM1 billion in potential exports.
Anwar will arrive at the Haneda International Airport tonight, accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.
Tomorrow, he is scheduled to attend a series of programmes involving Japanese government leaders and business leaders.
His work visit begins with a keynote address at the Nikkei Forum 29th Future of Asia.
The annual event brings together the movers and shakers from Asia Pacific to discuss the region's role on the global stage.
It will be the first time Anwar will be speaking at the forum in his capacity as Prime Minister.
Other leaders speaking at the event include Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, and Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai.
Anwar will then hold a series of one-on-one meetings with Japanese captains of industry.These include leaders of some of Japan's largest companies including Sumitomo Corporation, IHI Corporation, Nisshin OilliO Group, ENEOS Corporation, Tokoyuma Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Tokyo Gas.
At 2pm, the Prime Minister will have a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida at the Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei, the office of the Prime Minister of Japan.
Anwar and Kishida, who oversaw the elevation of bilateral ties to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" in December are expected to discuss a host of issues.These include collaboration on the economy, trade investment, the halal industry, energy transition, the environment, defence and security, capacity building, higher education.
The two leaders will also discuss regional and international issues including the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula.
Anwar will then have another series of one-to-one meetings with Japanese business leaders before attending the Nikkei Forum 29th Future of Asia conference dinner.
The meetings with Kishida and the Japanese business community are expected to see the continuance of strong Malaysia-Japanese bilateral and economic ties.
During his last visit in December, the Anwar-led Malaysian delegation secured potential investments worth RM6.56 billion.
It also comes at a time when 50.2 per cent of Japanese companies in Malaysia are considering expanding their businesses within the next two years, according to the Japan External Trade Organization's (JETRO) survey in January.
On Friday, Anwar will deliver a speech in honour of the late Professor Toshihiko Izutsu at Keio University in Tokyo.
Izutsu, an Islamic studies and comparative religion scholar is renowned for translating the Holy Quran into Japanese in 1958.
Anwar will then hold engagements with members of the Japan National Press Club and the international press.
This will be followed by a session with the Malaysian press in Tokyo.
He will then perform Friday prayers at the Tokyo Camii Mosque before departing for Malaysia.
