Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (File photo by WILLY KURNIAWAN / POOL / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday told King Al-Sultan Abdullah and Queen Azizah that it was time for the Philippines and Malaysia to reexamine and strengthen their relationship.
On the second day of his state visit to Malaysia, Marcos was welcomed with State Welcome Ceremony, including a 21-gun salute upon his arrival at Istana Negara, which is the nation’s national palace.
“It is time for us to really examine those relationship and restrengthen those relationship and that, for me, is the most important aspect of this visit that I have made to Kuala Lumpur, to Malaysia,” Marcos told Malaysia’s king and queen during their meeting.
According to Marcos, the two countries should refocus to find mutually beneficial efforts as they face a post-pandemic future. He said that the two countries must shape themselves to be part of a transforming world.
“We will play a very large part in that transformation. And that transformation is going to strengthen and made more stable by this partnership that we make with each other,” Marcos said.
The President said that the relations between the two countries will help foster culture and people-to-people diplomacy.
Marcos arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday afternoon. On the same day, he met with the Filipino community in Malaysia.
“Kung bakit kayo lumipat at umalis sa Pilipinas ay para nga dito sa mga opportunities na nakikita ninyo rito. Ngunit kailangan naming tiyakin na ‘yang mga opportunities na ‘yan ay nandiyan pa rin at habang kayo’y nagtatrabaho dito ay hindi naman kayo nahihirapan. At kung mayroon mang problema ay nandito ang pamahalaan upang tiyakin na lahat nga ng maaari naming gawin ay nagagawa namin upang tumulong,” Marcos told the Filipinos in Kuala Lumpur.
(You all left the Philippines for the opportunities you see here. But we have to guarantee that those opportunities will still be there and while you work, you will not struggle. If you ever have problems, the government is here to ensure that it will do everything needed to help.)
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