Malaysian PM visits Philippines to boost bilateral ties

While in the Philippines, he is scheduled to meet President Rodrigo Duterte, the ministry said in a statement.

The visit will provide opportunities for both leaders to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. It will also allow Malaysia to highlight the government's current policies and its stand particularly on issues of mutual concern, the ministry said.

It added that the visit is expected to add momentum to the peace process in southern Philippines after the government passed the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in January, on the creation of a larger autonomous Bangsamoro region in southern Philippines.

Malaysia’s news agency Bernama cited Charge d'Affaires of the Malaysian Embassy in the Philippines Rizany Irwan Muhamad Mazlan as saying that the visit can pave the way for Malaysian entrepreneurs to explore new areas of investment in the neighbouring country.

The Philippines is Malaysia's fourth largest trading partner among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries with the total trade between the two hitting USD6.45 billion in 2018./.