PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday agreed to strengthen friendship and trade relations between the two countries through more areas or cooperation, such as in the halal and Islamic banking industries, to boost the two nations post-pandemic economic recovery.
The two leaders, in a joint press briefing after meeting at the office of the Prime Minister in Putrajaya in Malaysia, said the two countries will have a “joint commission meeting” to explore “synergies for future partnerships.”
The President said priority cooperation will be in the areas of transnational crimes, agriculture, halal industry, Islamic banking, education, tourism and culture, sports, and the digital economy.
“We continue to work on the corresponding MOUs (memorandums of understanding) in these fields and have them signed in the near future,” Marcos added.
He said and Anwar also committed to closely coordinate efforts to build the capability of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BARMM) in the halal industry, Islamic banking, and food security.
“Malaysia has warmly offered their expertise to train Philippine personnel and officials to strengthen our capabilities in these increasingly important sectors,” he said.
The President also conveyed the country’s gratitude to Malaysia through the Prime Minister and King Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Mustafa’in Billah, for their continued support to the Philippines, especially in the peace and development in Mindanao.
Marcos said the two countries, recognizing the importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) centrality, also reaffirmed their commitment to support activities in the regional group as well as the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines- East Asian Growth Areas (BIMP-EAGA).
He said he and Anwar also agreed to further promote relations among the ASEAN member nations and its regional partners.
“I think this is an important aspect. This will be an important aspect to all the issues that ASEAN is presently facing and to all the issues that the member-states are worrying about,” he said without specifying the issues confronting the member nations.
Marcos arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday for a three-day state visit.
He said the state visit not only attests to the importance that the Philippines places on Malaysia as a neighbor and as a partner in ASEAN but also reaffirms the Philippines’ commitment to further cultivate bonds and friendships.
The two countries are celebrating the 60th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations next year.
TRANSFORMATION
The President, during his talk with King Abdullah yesterday morning, said it is important to “examine” and “re-strengthen” bilateral relationships, and the Philippines and Malaysia must recreate themselves to be competitive and be part of a new world order.
“That transformation is going to strengthen and make it more stable by this partnership that we make with each other. And so, it becomes more and more important for me that these partnerships we will foster on a cultural level and the people-to-people (diplomacy) now continue to be expanded and to gain stature in the way that we promote that relationship between our two countries,” he added.
The King and Queen Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah welcomed Marcos and First Lady Louise “Liza” Marcos at the at Istana Negara (Malaysia’s National Palace) yesterday and hosted a state banquet for them and the rest of the Philippine delegation.
The delegation included Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Senators JV Ejercito and Mark Villar, Ilocos Norte Rep. and presidential son Ferdinand Alexander ‘Sandro’ Marcos III, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, governors Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu of Sultan Kudarat, and Yshmael Sali of Tawi-Tawi, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, and Ambassador Charles Jose, Communications Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Suharto Mangudadatu, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairwoman Maria Belen Acosta, and Social Secretary Bianca Cristina Zobel.
The President was accorded a state welcome ceremony, including a 21-gun salute, upon his arrival at Istana Negara, followed by the signing of the official guest book.
Marcos and King Abdullah also planted, within the Palace grounds, an evergreen tree with the scientific name “gnetum gnemon” to mark the President’s visit.
The President is set to meet with members of the business community today.
Marcos met with members of the Filipino community on Tuesday, reported to them developments in the country, thanked them for their support, and vowed to ensure their welfare.
He recognized the role of overseas Filipinos in fostering good relations with other countries, saying that they are instrumental in maintaining the Philippines’ good reputation abroad.
The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said there are less than a million Filipinos in Malaysia, mostly overseas Filipino workers.
