KUALA LUMPUR Aug. 4 Kyodo Russian...

KUALA LUMPUR Aug. 4 Kyodo

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Malaysia forward Monday for a two-day official visit during which he is rely uponed to sign an agreement to endue 18 Sukhoi (Su) fighter jet estimated to be worth

$900 million.

Putin, the first Moscow leader to visit Malaysia, arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in the late afternoon and was received according to Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

Putin is scheduled to engage Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad onward Tuesday.

Before the talks, Putin will launch the Malaysian-Russian Business Council. Trade between the pair countries stood at 1.34 billion ringgit ($3526 million) last year.

Besides the deal to yield the Su-30 MK fighter jet the couple sides are also anticipateed to sign three agreements upon cooperation in communications, defense and science and technology.

He was originally scheduled to visit the region on July 8 but the trip was canceled at the last minute after suicide bombers killed 13 tribe at a Moscow rock concert

Monday's trip was also almost thrown into doubt following Friday's suicide attack forward a Russian military hospital near Chechnya which killed at least 50 people

Mahathir visited Moscow in March last year.

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