Saifuddin undertakes official visit to the Philippines

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 -- Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah will undertake a two-day working visit to Manila, the Philippines from today until Dec 10.

The Foreign Ministry in a statement today said this will be his first working visit to the country since assuming the post of Foreign Minister.

The statement said during the visit, Saifuddin is scheduled to meet Philippine Foreign Secretary, H.E. Teodoro L.Locsin Jr.

“The visit will provide opportunities for the duo to discuss bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interests and issues that were discussed during Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s official visit to Manila in March 2019,” according to the statement.

The Philippines is Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner among ASEAN countries and the 15th largest trading partner in the world.

The statement said Malaysia’s total trade with the Philippines in 2018 recorded a significant growth of 8.8 per cent amounting to US$6.45 billion (RM26.83 billion) from US$5.93 billion (RM24.67 billion) in 2017.

Exports grew by 8.4 per cent to US$4.17 billion (RM17.35 billion), while imports expanded by 8.7 per cent to US$4.17 billion (RM17.35 billion).

-- BERNAMA