KUALA LUMPUR, 12 JUN – The Philippines is taking advantage of the momentum spurred by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit, to revitalise the strong bilateral relationship.
Philippines ambassador Charles Jose his country was honoured to have hosted Anwar in Manila last March, which enhanced the 59th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Malaysia.
“Following Anwar’s visit, we are able to revitalise our bilateral relations, especially in the areas of trade and investment, agriculture and food security, digital economy, tourism, defence, regional security and people-to-people exchanges.
“As next-door neighbours, the interactions between our people go way back in centuries and the bond we share is as strong as it is deep. “This bond has carried us through many defining moments in the history of our relationship.
“We count on this shared history between our nations and people to enable us to find mutually acceptable solutions as we forge ahead to address common challenges,” said Jose, at the 125th anniversary of the declaration of the Philippines Independence at the JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur in Jalan Bukit Bintang.
Present were the guest-of-honour Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and the ambassador’s wife Maria Victoria Jose.
Jose said that from being the first colony in Southeast Asia to assert its own independence, and from being the first formally-recognised constitutional republic in Asia back in 1898, the Philippines today was now one of the world’s fastest growing emerging markets.
He added that this was made possible with its population of 115-million strong and a dynamic domestic economy that posted among the highest gross domestic product-growth rates in the world at the start of this year.
“We stand at the cusp of attaining middle power status and becoming the world’s 16th largest economy by 2040.
“Our international engagements and partnerships play a vital role in realising these ambitions while ensuring concrete benefits for our people.
“As a maritime and archipelagic nation holding the world’s fifth longest coastline, our identity, cultural heritage, economic prosperity and national security are tied closely to our waters and their security and stability.
“We remain deeply invested in the maintenance of a rules-based international order, especially in the maritime domain, underpinned by international law,” Jose said.
He stressed that since his republic’s founding in 1898, their foreign policy remained anchored in the principles of decolonisation, human rights, and equality, as they continued to champion multilateralism and promote safe and orderly migration and climate action.
“Under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the Philippines will continue to work with our multilateral and bilateral partners to advance these goals and principles,” Jose said. – airtimes.my
