KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia's King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud received a grand red carpet welcome by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V at the Parliament building, as part of the former's state visit to Malaysia, today.
King Salman arrived at the Parliament Square at 11.45am, accompanied by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
His arrival was greeted by the Central Band of the Royal Malay Regiment, along with a 21-gun salute.
King Salman inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 103 members and four officers of the Royal Malay Regiment's First Battalion, under the command of Major Azlan Shah Baharom.
The flags of both nations were raised, with the two national anthems played.
Also present were cabinet ministers, diplomats and members of King Salman's delegation.
The Saudi ruler and his delegation had earlier arrived at the Bunga Raya Complex at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 10.32am for his four-day state visit to Malaysia.
This would be King Salman's first state visit to Malaysia since ascending the throne in 2015.
Later in the evening, King Salman will depart for Istana Negara, where he will have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, before being conferred the Darjah Seri Mahkota Negara.
A state banquet will also be held at the palace in King Salman’s honour.
Tomorrow morning, His Majesty will meet with the prime minister at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya for an official meeting.
King Salman will also attend the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding before attending an official luncheon hosted by Najib at Seri Perdana.
Later that evening, the Saudi ruler is expected to visit University of Malaya, where he will be conferred an honorary doctorate.
Reporting by ADRIAN LAI, HANA NAZ HARUN and ARFA YUNUS