Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Vice President Jejomar Binay flew Sunday afternoon to Malaysia, where he would “bring the good news about the Philippines” to top government officials and businessmen.
The Office of the Vice President said Binay left on Malaysian Airlines flight MH 705 to Kuala Lumpur, which departed at 3:50 p.m. from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Before leaving, Binay issued a statement saying he was confident that his visit to Kuala Lumpur would further strengthen the economic and diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Malaysia.
Both the Philippines and Malaysia are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
“It is an excellent opportunity to bring the good news about the Philippines to the leaders and ranking officials of Malaysia and to their business community,” Binay said.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Binay will be the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the Philippines-Malaysia Investment Partnership Forum.
Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya will welcome Binay in Kuala Lumpur.
While in Malaysia, the Vice President will meet with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato Dri Anifah Aman, and Minister of International Trade and Industry Dato Dri Mustapa bin Mohamed, among other officials.
Binay will also attend the inauguration of the newly renovated Philippine Embassy and hold separate meetings with the Malaysia-Philippines Business Council, the Scouts Association of Malaysia, as well as the leaders of the Filipino community in Kuala Lumpur.
From Malaysia, Binay will fly to the United States where he has several official activities lined up from May 30 to June 4.
Binay, also the government’s housing czar, will speak at the 5th Global Housing Finance Conference at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC.
As he is also the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ affairs, Binay will meet with leaders and members of the Filipino community on the US East Coast and top officials of the US Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.
From Washington, Binay will fly to California on the West Coast where he will be the guest of honor during the advance celebration of the 114th anniversary of Philippine Independence.
Binay will be back just before President Benigno Aquino III himself departs to the US on a visit. Jerry E. Esplanada