CNA had reported that the former political aide to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was told by the premier to back off from such a move, but Farhash says he did not receive any such order.  

Analysts said that with little time to prepare and Washington's attention focused on the US-Israeli war with Iran, prospects for a major trade breakthrough are limited. 

Under the framework, both countries will strengthen collaboration in areas such as cross-border electricity imports, civil nuclear energy and liquefied natural gas, among others.

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Sunday that it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft, concentrated in the Taiwan Strait, over the previous 24 hours.

South Korea’s military said that it detected about 10 ballistic missiles fired from North Korea’s capital region toward the eastern sea.