PUTRAJAYA: United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held a discussion with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad here this morning as part of his two-day inaugural visit to Malaysia.
Pompeo also took the opportunity during the 30-minute meeting at Perdana Putra here to congratulate Dr Mahathir on his victory in the May general election
“The visit provided a great opportunity for both Malaysia and the United States of America to discuss a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest,” Wisma Putra said in a statement.
The Secretary of State, who arrived at 9am, was accompanied by United States Ambassador to Malaysia, Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir.
Also present were Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu and Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Marzuki Yahya.
Pompeo is the most senior US official to visit Dr Mahathir since his election victory.
He arrived in Malaysia on Thursday to kick off a five-day tour to three Southeast Asian countries.
Pompeo is now headed to Singapore for the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
The United States established diplomatic ties with Malaysia in 1957 following then-Malaya's independence from the United Kingdom.
Washington and Kuala Lumpur elevated bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership in April 2014. --Bernama