Local delicacies like the durian held pride of place yesterday during Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's "brief but significant" visit to Putrajaya. Mr Lee, his wife and Singapore officials had arrived at the Malaysian Prime Minister's official residence, Seri Perdana, for the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the high-speed rail project linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

But before the event, the two leaders had a private meeting, after which Datuk Seri Najib Razak hosted the Singaporeans to lunch.

It was a buffet of largely local food such as Ampang yong tau foo, Penang laksa - and the king of fruits.

On Facebook last night, Mr Lee shared a snapshot of himself and Mr Najib with their plates of durian. He wrote, with a smiling emoji: "PM Najib offering me more durian at lunch. How could I say no?"

As Mr Najib said after the signing: "It goes to show how much we can achieve by working together in the spirit of good neighbourliness and partnership - and particularly when we can share a plate of durian."