APD | Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir arrives Wednesday night for three-day official visit
By APD writer Melo M. Acuña
MANILA, Mar.6 (APD) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad arrives at 7:50 P.M. Wednesday at Villamor Air Base and has been scheduled to meet President Rodrigo Roa Duterte tomorrow to discuss strategies to strengthen bilateral relations.
This marks his third visit to the Philippines having visited the country as premier in 1987 and 1994.
Dr. Mahathir will be accompanied by his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdulla, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking and other high-ranking government officials.
He will lead a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Manila at 2:45 P.M. Thursday afternoon.
Prime Minister Mahathir will be officially welcomed at the Malacanang Palace grounds at 3:15 P.M. and will sign the Malacañang Guest Book prior to their preliminary meeting at the Malacañang Study Room.
An expanded bilateral meeting between the Malaysian leader and President Duterte will take place at the Aguinaldo State banquet hall at 4:45 P.M. where both leaders are expected to issue their joint press statements.
A state banquet in honor of Prime Minister Mahathir will be held at the Rizal Hall at 7:30 P.M.
Diplomatic sources said Prime Minister Mahathir is also expected to address the Malaysian-Philippine business forum which will attend by business leaders from both countries.
This is his first visit to neighboring countries in ASEAN after he took office as Malaysia’s seventh prime minister last year.
According to Department of Foreign Affairs figures, there were 321,593 Documented or Temporary Migrants while there were 298,450 Irregular or Undocumented Migrants, most of whom were in Sabah as of December 31,2017.
It will be recalled Malaysian authorities have launched its campaign against illegal migrants since the second part of 2018.
Diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the Philippines began 60 years ago.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
