Umno signs MoU with North Korea and Sri Lanka in fostering closer relations

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno today signed two memoranda of understanding to foster closer relationships with North Korean and Sri Lankan political parties here today.
Its Secretary-General Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor signed the MoUs on behalf of Umno with Workers' Party of North Korea (WPK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) on the sidelines of the Umno General Assembly 2014 here today.
WPK was represented by its deputy head Pak Kun Gwang and SLMC by its Secretary General M. T. Hasen Ali.
Tengku Adnan said the two MoUs reflected the long-standing relationships and cooperation Umno has with these two foreign political parties, which include the exchange programmes between the political parties.
He said the relationship with WPK was brought up during the former party president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's visit to North Korea in 1979, when he was still the party deputy president.
"Umno established relationship (with WPK) in 1998, and recently the party requested for an MoU to be signed to foster a closer cooperation with Umno," he told Bernama after signing the MoU.
Meanwhile Pak said the party is keen to learn of Umno experiences, and hopes to establish cooperation in various fields, including in leadership.
Besides developing relationships with Umno could contribute towards peace, stability, cooperation and development between both countries, he said.
"We also want to learn from Umno's strength and success in organising short and long-term programmes," he added.
Meanwhile Hasen said the existing good relations and understanding between SLMC and Umno had helped the two friendly countries to develop stronger ties.
"I am confident that this relationship would be further enhanced in the future, (and) contribute significantly to the stability and peace in the region," he said.
WPK, founded in 1949, is the ruling political party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or better known as North Korea, while SLMC was formed in 1981. – Bernama