MANILA, Philippines — For the first time since assuming office in 2018, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad will be visiting the Philippines upon the invitation of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Malaysian leader will undertake an official visit to the country from March 6 to 7, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday.
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President Rodrigo Duterte will host a welcome ceremony for his Malaysian counterpart at Malacañang Palace on March 7.
The two leaders will then hold a bilateral meeting to discuss political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. They will also exchange views on topics of mutual importance, the DFA said.
After his meeting with Duterte, Mahathir will meet with Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Prior to this year's official visit to the Philippines, Mahathir undertook bilateral official visits to the country in 1987 and 1994. This was during his previous term as prime minister.
Mahathir's forthcoming visit to the country would reciprocate Duterte's working visit to Kuala Lumpur in July 2018.
The previous meeting between the two leaders occurred a day after both of them watched the boxing fight between Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Argentinian Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur.
Duterte and Mahathir then vowed stronger bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and Malaysia. — Patricia Lourdes Viray