MANILA: Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos left for Malaysia on Tuesday for a three-day visit to identify new areas of economic cooperation between the two countries, reported Xinhua.
“I believe this is an opportune time to harness the potential of a revitalised relationship between the Philippines and Malaysia,” Marcos said in his departure speech at an airbase in Manila.
The Philippines and Malaysia, two major economies in Southeast Asia, have long enjoyed close economic ties, supported by strong bilateral ties stretching back for decades.
Marcos is expected to have an audience with the King of Malaysia, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and meet local business leaders to showcase trade and investment opportunities.
He said his visit will focus on areas, such as agriculture, food security, digital economy, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, as well as explore new avenues for cooperation.
“This visit aims to forge synergies with Malaysia for the Philippines to enjoy a share of this market,” he added.
During the visit, Marcos will be received in a state welcoming ceremony at Istana Negara by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on Wednesday.
“Subsequently, President Marcos Jr. will have an audience with the King followed by a State Banquet in honour of the president and his delegation,” said a statement from the Malaysian Foreign Ministry.
Marcos will be accompanied by the First Lady, Louise Araneta-Marcos, with the delegation comprising Cabinet Secretaries, elected representatives and senior officials of the government of the Philippines.
The visit underscores the longstanding friendship and close ties between the two countries as close neighbours and partners in Asean, including through various high-level exchanges such as Anwar’s recent official visit to Manila in March 2023.
In 2022, the Philippines was Malaysia’s 15th largest trading partner globally and the 5th largest among the Asean member states, with total trade amounting to RM41.45 billion (US$9.42 billion) – an increase of 20.1 per cent compared to the recorded value in 2021. – BERNAMA
