Obama: Draw strength from ethnic and religious diversity

Royal welcome: The King welcoming Obama during the official state dinner at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur as Najib and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin look on.

KUALA LUMPUR: The United States and Malaysia can draw strength from their ethnic and religious diversity and hope from history to carve a brighter future for the next generation, says US president Barack Obama.

In his remarks at a state banquet hosted at Istana Negara here in conjunction with his three-day state visit to Malaysia, Obama said that while the United States and Malaysia may be different as nations, their people shared similar hopes and aspirations.