Ceremonial Hall, Malacañan Palace
March 1, 2023

“I view the Prime Minister’s visit as a rekindling of an old bond, millennia in the making, between neighbors and ASEAN founding members, whose people have interacted and traded centuries before they even knew the concept of countries,” said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as he offered a toast in honor of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia during an official dinner at the Ceremonial Hall in Malacañan Palace.

As close neighbors and founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the President looks forward to working hand-in-hand with the Prime Minister to achieve sustainable peace and strengthen the Region’s economic growth.

“Let me assure you now that this sincere and tested friendship has remained strong throughout the decades. I further express my hopes that this warm kinship between us as leaders will set the tone of the bilateral relations between our governments, countries, and people in the years to come,” the President expressed.

In response, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim likewise offered a toast conveying his deepest gratitude for the warm welcome accorded to him by the President and the rest of the Philippine Delegation.

“We are determined to elevate Malaysia-Philippines relations to greater heights. We have a very fruitful discussion earlier, and I hope the seeds planted will bear into fruition,” he said.

The dinner concluded the first day of the Malaysian Prime Minister’s two-day Official Visit to the Philippines.

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