Wisma Putra, in a statement, said the visit was at the invitation of Nikkei Incorporated as the organiser of the conference and he would be accompanied by his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, and foreign ministry officials.

Apart from delivering a keynote address, entitled “Keeping Asia Open – How to Achieve Prosperity and Stability”, which is the theme of the Nikkei conference this year, Mahathir will also be meeting his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, during the conference.

Mahathir is also expected to meet several business entities such as the Japan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Japan External Trade Organisation and Japan-Malaysia Economic Association.

According to the statement, the presence of the prime minister at the conference will give Malaysia an opportunity to be involved in the initiative to boost economic cooperation with countries in the region.

The working visit would enable Malaysia to put forward the current government’s policies to Japan and countries in the region, especially on foreign trade and investment.

It will also give Malaysia the space to contribute and share knowledge and experiences with representatives of other governments, business figures as well as academicians.