Duterte, Mahathir to meet in Malacañang on Thursday

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad in Malacañang on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Malaysian Prime Minister would be in Manila for an official visit from March 6 to 7 upon the invitation of Duterte.

The official visit of the Prime Minister reciprocates Duterte’s visit to Malaysia in July 2018, Panelo added.

He said Duterte will officially welcome Prime Minister Mahathir at ceremonies in Malacañang Palace on Thursday.

“The two leaders will then hold a bilateral meeting and discuss cooperation in the political, economic and people-to-people spheres, and exchange views on topics of mutual importance,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Mahathir’s visit this week will be his first visit to the Philippines since he assumed his position as the 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia in 2018.

Mahathir had bilateral official visits in 1987 and 1994 in the Philippines during his previous term as Prime Minister.

Malacañang said in 2018 after the victory of Mahathir that his win “augurs well for the deep relations between the Philippines and Malaysia.” /ee

READ: Mahathir’s win ‘augurs well’ for PH-Malaysia ‘deep relations’ – Palace