Kuala Lumpur: Opening the first visit to Malaysia by a U.S. president in nearly half a century, Barack Obama looked ahead Saturday to economic and security talks with Prime Minister Najib Razak, who leads a southeast Asian nation with an important role in efforts to forge deeper relations with Asia.
Stepping off his plane and onto a red carpet at the Royal Malaysian Air Base, Obama was whisked by limousine to Kuala Lumpur's Parliament Square, where canon salutes rang out as Malaysia's king and prime minister greeted Obama under muggy skies.
A military band played the U.S. and Malaysian national anthems twice and Obama inspected an elaborate honor guard in crisp green and white before the arrival ceremony came to a close.
Obama's next stop was the Istana Negara, the National Palace, for an audience with Malaysia's royal family before he takes his seat on later Saturday at a state dinner being held in his honour.
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