BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and ASHZEL HACHERO
MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to arrive today for a two-day official visit during which he and President Marcos Jr will discuss regional and international issues, Malacañang and Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
Anwar is the first head of government to visit the Philippines under the Marcos Jr. administration. It will also be Anwar’s first visit to the Philippines since he was sworn in as 10th Malaysian prime minister in November last year.
The Malaysian leader will be accompanied by his wife Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and several ministers.
Malacañang said the two leaders are expected to discuss areas of mutual concern such as political, security, economic cooperation, and people-to-people ties during their meeting on Wednesday.
It also said Marcos will host a welcome ceremony and a dinner banquet for the Malaysian Prime Minister and his delegation in the Palace.
The Malaysian foreign affairs ministry said the two leaders “are expected to discuss various bilateral matters such as security cooperation, halal industry collaboration and digital economy cooperation.”
“Both sides will also be exchanging views on regional and international issues of mutual interest,” it added.
Anwar will also deliver a public lecture titled “30 Years After ASEAN Renaissance: Strategic Takeaways for Asean, at the University of the Philippines.
Anwar’s official delegation is composed of Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Datuk Ewon Benedick, and officials from other Malaysian government agencies.
The foreign ministry said the visit “reflects the importance of good ties between Malaysia and the Philippines as close neighbors and partners in ASEAN.”
“The visit will also provide an excellent opportunity for both sides to advance the partnership for progress, guided by shared interest, increased political and economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges,” it added.
The Philippines was Malaysia’s 15th largest trading partner in 2022 and the fifth largest among ASEAN member-countries.
Total trade between Kuala Lumpur and Manila amounted to $9.42 billion last year, or an increase of 20.1 percent to the recorded value in 2021.
