Tashkent: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, has arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in conjunction with a special visit to the country.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, a post on His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia's official Facebook page revealed that Her Majesty arrived at Tashkent International Airport at 3.10 pm local time. She was received by Uzbekistan's Minister of Preschool and School Education Ezozkhon Karimova and Deputy Foreign Minister Bobur Usmanov.

In attendance were Malaysia's Ambassador to Uzbekistan Ilham Tuah Illias, Director-General of Higher Education Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Board of Directors chairman Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar, and UTM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim.

During the visit, the Queen, acting as UTM Chancellor, is set to deliver a royal address at a conference themed 'Scientific Traditions in Islamic Civilisation: Sources, Potential and Challenges' at the International Islamic Civilisation Centre in Tashkent on May 5. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir is also expected to attend the conference.

Raja Zarith Sofiah is also scheduled to oversee the exchange of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between UTM and the Centre of Islamic Civilisation, alongside universities in Uzbekistan. Her Majesty departed for Uzbekistan from the Royal Hangar at Senai International Airport, Johor, earlier today.