KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Sunday his just-ended visits to three western powers were a success and had opened up a new era inbilateral relations.

    Abdullah made the comments when he returned home Sunday afternoon from his official visits to the United States, France and Britain, the three permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

    On hand to receive him were Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and several cabinet ministers.

    In his first official visit to the United States since becoming prime minister last October, Abdullah met President George W. Bushat the White House where they discussed various issues including terrorism, Iraq, Palestine and investments.

    During the meeting, Abdullah announced that Malaysia was going to send a sizable medical team to Iraq and was keen to take part in the rebuilding of the war-torn nation.

    He then met French President Jacques Chirac in Paris and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London.

    Abdullah said Bush, Chirac and Blair showed interest and commitment in further enhancing political and economic ties with Malaysia.

    He said that at the meetings, he presented the views of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), both of which Malaysia is chairing, on issues relating to West Asia, Iraq and international terrorism. Enditem