Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
25-27 July 2023
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. embarks on his first State Visit to Malaysia to reaffirm the Philippines’ rich bilateral ties with its close neighbor and partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the President, together with First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, is visiting upon the invitation of His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Mustafa’in Billah, Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVI (16th King) of Malaysia.
His Majesty King Al-Sultan Abdullah and Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim are honoring the President with a State Welcome Ceremony at the King’s Official Residence in Istana Negara (National Palace), Kuala Lumpur.
With over six (6) decades of friendship and people-to-people exchanges dating back to millennia, President Marcos Jr. is pushing for more collaborative initiatives in increasing Philippines-Malaysia relations. Apart from his Royal Audience with the King, he is meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for a bilateral discussion geared towards identifying new areas of synergy between the two nations.
The two leaders are said to pursue bilateral cooperation in priority areas that support the economic agenda of the country, including agriculture, food security, tourism, digital economy and people-to-people exchanges. Other matters to be explored include halal industry and Islamic Banking.
To recall, the Malaysian Prime Minister is the first Head of Government to pay an official visit to the Philippines under the Marcos Administration. During their meeting in Malacañan Palace last March 2023, the President likewise recognized Malaysia’s vital role in the peace efforts in Mindanao.
Furthermore, the President is holding conferences with key Filipino and Malaysian business leaders in fulfillment of the Administration’s undertaking to bring in more trade and investments and economic opportunities for the Filipino people. To date, Malaysia is the top 10th trading partner of the Philippines and top 22nd source of approved investments in 2022, aside from ranking top 20 in terms of the number of tourist arrivals in the Philippines in 2023.
The Chief Executive is also taking the opportunity to meet and personally thank his countrymen in Malaysia for their support and important role in the continuing work of nation building. In 2022, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) recorded roughly 15,000 Filipino household service workers in Malaysia, 300 professionals, 700 highly skilled workers, 800 semi-skilled workers and around 260 general labor workers.
The DFA says that the reciprocal visit between the leaders of both the Philippines and Malaysia in the same year is a testament to the reintegrated relationship between the two countries. The President’s State Visit is also an opportune time as the Philippines and Malaysia mark the 68th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
* * *