PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim will meet to discuss the strengthening of political, security and economic relations between Manila and Kuala Lumpur, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
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Malaysia's new Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivers a speech at a gathering in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 24, 2022. AFP PHOTO© The Manila Times
Anwar, who will make an official visit to the Philippines on March 1 and 2, will hold a bilateral meeting with Marcos in Malacañang on Wednesday.
"President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will officially welcome the Malaysian Prime Minister at ceremonies in Malacañang Palace on 1 March 2023," Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.
"The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting to discuss areas of mutual concern such as political, security, and economic cooperation, as well as people-to-people ties. They are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues,"she added.
Afterwards, Garafil said the President will hold a dinner banquet in honor of the Prime Minister.
While in Manila, Anwar will likewise deliver a public lecture about the years after the Asian Renaissance at the University of the Philippines.
He will also conduct an engagement session with Malaysians in the country.
The official visit, the ministry said, shows the importance of good ties between the two nations as close neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Anwar will provide an excellent opportunity for both sides to advance partnership for progress, guided by shared interest, increased political and economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges," the ministry added.
The Malaysian leader will be accompanied by officials from relevant ministries and agencies.
A long-time opposition leader, Anwar, 75, had said on Twitter that Malaysia and the Philippines "always enjoyed strong cooperation on bilateral, regional and multilateral forums."
Anwar is the first Head of Government to visit the Philippines under the Marcos administration.
Malaysia was the facilitator of the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which led to the signing of a peace deal in March 2014.
While generally enjoying good relations, the issue of Sabah has been a long-time thorn in the diplomatic ties between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.
Sabah, located south of Mindanao, is territorially disputed by the Philippines and Malaysia.
A Philippine claim for sovereignty over Sabah has lain dormant for decades, but Malaysia has ρáíd a yearly rent to the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu.
However, this stopped in 2013 after an armed intrusion in Sabah by forces said to be linked to the Sulu sultanate to reclaim rights over Sabah.
Malaysia has maintained that Sabah has been recognized by the United Nations and the international community as part of Malaysia since the formation of the Malaysia Federation on Sept. 16, 1963.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Anwar's visit to Manila is the first after being sworn in as Malaysia's 10th prime minister.
"Both leaders are expected to discuss various bilateral matters such as security cooperation, halal industry collaboration, and digital economy cooperation," the ministry said in a statement.
"Both sides will also be exchanging views on regional and international issues of mutual interest," it added.
FROM: THE MANILA TIMES
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Malaysia's new Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivers a speech at a gathering in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 24, 2022. AFP PHOTO© The Manila Times
Anwar, who will make an official visit to the Philippines on March 1 and 2, will hold a bilateral meeting with Marcos in Malacañang on Wednesday.
"President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will officially welcome the Malaysian Prime Minister at ceremonies in Malacañang Palace on 1 March 2023," Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.
"The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting to discuss areas of mutual concern such as political, security, and economic cooperation, as well as people-to-people ties. They are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues,"she added.
Afterwards, Garafil said the President will hold a dinner banquet in honor of the Prime Minister.
While in Manila, Anwar will likewise deliver a public lecture about the years after the Asian Renaissance at the University of the Philippines.
He will also conduct an engagement session with Malaysians in the country.
The official visit, the ministry said, shows the importance of good ties between the two nations as close neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Anwar will provide an excellent opportunity for both sides to advance partnership for progress, guided by shared interest, increased political and economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges," the ministry added.
The Malaysian leader will be accompanied by officials from relevant ministries and agencies.
A long-time opposition leader, Anwar, 75, had said on Twitter that Malaysia and the Philippines "always enjoyed strong cooperation on bilateral, regional and multilateral forums."
Anwar is the first Head of Government to visit the Philippines under the Marcos administration.
Malaysia was the facilitator of the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which led to the signing of a peace deal in March 2014.
While generally enjoying good relations, the issue of Sabah has been a long-time thorn in the diplomatic ties between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.
Sabah, located south of Mindanao, is territorially disputed by the Philippines and Malaysia.
A Philippine claim for sovereignty over Sabah has lain dormant for decades, but Malaysia has ρáíd a yearly rent to the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu.
However, this stopped in 2013 after an armed intrusion in Sabah by forces said to be linked to the Sulu sultanate to reclaim rights over Sabah.
Malaysia has maintained that Sabah has been recognized by the United Nations and the international community as part of Malaysia since the formation of the Malaysia Federation on Sept. 16, 1963.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Anwar's visit to Manila is the first after being sworn in as Malaysia's 10th prime minister.
"Both leaders are expected to discuss various bilateral matters such as security cooperation, halal industry collaboration, and digital economy cooperation," the ministry said in a statement.
"Both sides will also be exchanging views on regional and international issues of mutual interest," it added.
FROM: THE MANILA TIMES