Malaysian Supreme Head of State Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin on Saturday hosted a banquet for visiting Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi attended the banquet Saturday night in the national palace here.

Akihito arrived in the northern state of Perak Saturday morning, where he met with Perak Sultan Azlan Shah in the royal town of Kuala Kangsa.

On Sunday, the Japanese royal couple will receive a courtesy call by Badawi and meet Japanese residents in Malaysia before leaving for Thailand.

This is Akihito's third visit to Malaysia. Akihito visited this southeast Asian nation for the first time in 1970 when he was then crown prince. In 1991, the Japanese emperor made a state visit to this country.

Japan is one of Malaysia's top three trading partners and major export markets. Last year, Malaysia received a foreign investment of 3 billion ringgit (810.81 million U.S. dollars) in 66 projects from Japan, according to local media reports.

Source: Xinhua