PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand Marcos Jr was accorded a state welcome at Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur, today in conjunction with his maiden three-day visit to Malaysia, which began yesterday.

On arrival at 11am, Marcos and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos were greeted by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

Also present were Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as well as cabinet ministers.

The welcoming ceremony at the parade ground began with the singing of the national anthems of the two countries by the Royal Malaysian Air Force central band, followed by a 21-gun salute.

Marcos then inspected a guard of honour mounted by four officers and 103 rank-and-file personnel of the First Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment from Wardieburn Camp.

Marcos and Al-Sultan Abdullah then planted a melinjau tree (Gnetum gnemon) in the palace compound, witnessed by Araneta-Marcos, Tunku Azizah, Anwar and Wan Azizah. 

The president then attended a state luncheon together with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong.

Marcos is slated to hold a joint press conference with Anwar in Putrajaya and attend a dinner at the Petronas Twin Towers today.

The visit underscores the longstanding friendship and close ties between the two countries as close neighbours and partners in Asean, including through various high-level exchanges such as Anwar’s recent official visit to Manila in March 2023.

In 2022, the Philippines was Malaysia’s 15th largest trading partner globally and the fifth largest among the Asean member states, with total trade amounting to RM41.45 billion (US$9.42 billion) – an increase of 20.1% compared to the recorded value in 2021. – Bernama, July 26, 2023.