PBBM to visit Malaysia after SONA

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will fly to Malaysia for a three-day state visit next week to pursue stronger bilateral relations, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

During a public briefing in Malacañang, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza shared that the President will leave on July 25 -- a day after his State of the Nation Address (SONA) -- to meet with

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and discuss the partnership between the two countries.

Daza said the Chief Executive would also meet with Malaysia's King,

Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin AlMustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah, during the trip.

“During this meeting, he will meet with both the Malaysian King, the 16th King of Malaysia, and the Prime Minister of Malaysia, and he will pursue bilateral cooperation in priority areas… that are actually in support of the economic agenda of the country,” Daza said.

The President will be joined by his Cabinet officials and business leaders to explore economic opportunities and meet with Filipinos residing and working in Malaysia.

“We’re also expecting that the meeting with key Malaysian businessmen and business leaders will hopefully generate investment pledges from Malaysian companies,” Daza said.

Malaysia is among the top 10 trading partners of the Philippines, the 22nd source of approved investments in the Philippines in 2022, and ranked in the top 20 in terms of source of tourists in 2023.