King of Malaysia plants tree symbolising close Malaysia-UAE ties

His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today planted a jujube or "bidara" sapling at the main square of the National Palce

The tree was contributed by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The tree-planting ceremony symbolised the warm and close bilateral relations between Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The ceremony also reflected the close friendship between Al-Sultan Abdullah and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

His Majesty also received 12 jujube saplings from Sheikh Mohamed which were flown in directly from Abu Dhabi, UAE.

His Majesty expresses his deepest gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and the UAE government for the contribution, which is also proof of the long-existing close ties between the two nations.

Also present at the ceremony were Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob.

Al-Sultan Abdullah and Sheikh Mohamed became friends when they met at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst more than 40 years ago.

Both leaders were college mates in 1978 and 1979, and the close friendship between them remains until today.

Al-Sultan Abdullah expressed hope that the bilateral ties between Malaysia and UAE will be strengthened and expanded into various fields for mutual benefit.