KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has expressed his hope that the warm relationship enjoyed by Malaysia and the Philippines will continue to blossom for the mutual benefits of their peoples and nations.
In his speech at a state banquet held in honour of visiting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, the King said the Philippines is an important partner to Malaysia, given the Philippines’ close proximity and active involvement in Asean.
“Bound by our shared aspirations of progress, peace and prosperity, our two countries share many commonalities and strong people-to-people ties... To this day, we have faced many common challenges, but we have also achieved much more together.
“Mutual efforts and understanding are vital to further elevating our close relations and good cooperation to new heights... I hope that Malaysia and the Philippines can expand their collaborations and partnerships in new and emerging areas such as agriculture, the digital economy, and the halal food industry,” said His Majesty, as reported by Bernama.
Cordial friendships: The King (third from right) and the Queen (second from right) sharing a relaxed moment with Marcos Jr and Araneta-Marcos (third and second from left respectively). They are flanked by Anwar and Wan Azizah.
Also present at the banquet hosted by the King and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah at Istana Negara were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and other Cabinet members.
His Majesty said regular exchanges of high-level visits among leaders and officials of both countries will further contribute to a positive momentum in advancing shared interests and addressing common challenges.
“Shared peace and progress can only be achieved and maintained through stability and prosperity in the region and the world as a whole. Together, we shall continue to build a brighter future for our people and the generations to come, especially as we seek to celebrate our 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year,” said His Majesty.
In 2022, the Philippines was Malaysia’s 15th largest trading partner globally and the fifth largest among Asean member states, with total trade amounting to RM41.45bil, an increase of 20.1% compared to the recorded value in 2021.
Marcos was accorded a state welcome at Istana Negara in conjunction with his maiden three-day visit to Malaysia which began on Tuesday.
