MH370: Obama visits Malaysia as questions loom over missing jetliner

President Barack Obama is the first American leader in decades to visit Malaysia, the Asian nation grappling with the mystery of a vanished jetliner.

Obama landed in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, seven weeks to the day Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared with 239 people aboard.

He's remained largely quiet over the issue amid an international underwater search focusing on the southern Indian Ocean.

At an elaborate dinner at Istana Negara palace, attended by some 600 guests, Paramount Ruler Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah offered a toast in English and personally thanked Obama for U.S. support in the aftermath of the plane's disappearance.

A day before his arrival, he told a Malaysian newspaper, The Star, that the U.S. remains committed to the search.

"The United States was one of the first countries to join in the search for the missing plane," he said.

"U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and personnel remain on the scene, assisting in the search. Our FBI is working closely with Malaysia on the investigation into what caused the aircraft to disappear. And we'll continue to offer our support and assistance as the search and investigation continue."

Obama will discuss the search for the missing plane with Malaysia's Prime Minister, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters, but it will not be the only item on the agenda.

Malaysia is a growing partner of the United States, which seeks to deepen that relationship, Rhodes said.

- (CNN)

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