Arriving at the Bunga Raya Complex of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in a special aircraft, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr began his inaugural three-day state visit to Malaysia today. Accompanying him were First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and a delegation from the Philippines.
The President’s touchdown at 5pm was welcomed by an assortment of dignitaries including National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Datuk Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony, and the Philippines Ambassador to Malaysia Charles C. Jose. Post arrival, Marcos inspected a guard of honour, comprising 28 officers and personnel from the First Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment (1RRD), led by Captain Muhammad Nur Zhafran Ahamad.
Wednesday promises a grand State Welcoming Ceremony at Istana Negara hosted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. This will be followed by a State Banquet honouring President Marcos and his delegation.
A meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Putrajaya forms a crucial part of President Marcos’s itinerary, with the leaders expected to discuss a range of bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. Moreover, Marcos is slated to meet Malaysian business leaders to explore potential investment and economic opportunities.
The visit symbolizes the longstanding friendship and ties between the Philippines and Malaysia, who are not only close neighbours but also active partners in ASEAN. High-level exchanges like the recent official visit of Anwar to Manila in March 2023 have fostered these connections further.
As per 2022 data, the Philippines ranked as Malaysia’s 15th largest trading partner globally and the 5th largest among the ASEAN member states, with total trade worth RM41.45 billion. This marked a significant 20.1 per cent increase compared to 2021.
The information presented here is based on an article from malaymail.com.
