SFA-AGR-305-08

OFFICIAL VISIT OF MALAYSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

H.E. DATUK SERI UTAMA DR. RAIS YATIM

TO THE PHILIPPINES

ON 6-7 MAY 2008

5 May 2008—Malaysian Foreign Minister (FM) H.E. Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim is scheduled to arrive in the Philippines on 6 May for a two-day Official Visit. The visit is part of ASEAN's tradition of newly installed Foreign Ministers visiting their counterparts in the region.

On 7 May 2008, FM Dr. Rais will call on President Macapagal-Arroyo and will have a separate meeting with his counterpart, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo. His visit is expected to enhance our traditional ties with Malaysia - our closest neighbor to the south. It will be an opportunity to explore new areas for cooperation, at the bilateral level and within the context of ASEAN.

As Malaysia is host to about 200,000 Filipinos, the Philippines will seek improvements in the treatment and working environment of Filipino workers.

The Philippines and Malaysia established diplomatic relations on 18 May 1964. Since then, bilateral relations at all fields have reached a new level. In the area of trade and investments, Malaysia ranks as the Philippines 7^th trading partner, 7^th export market and 8^th import supplier, with total bilateral trade amounting to US$4,743.43 million in 2007.

In the same period, Malaysian foreign direct investments registered with the Bureau of Investments and other investment promotion agencies increased to Php 7.76 billion in 2007 from Php 855.7 million in 2006. Malaysia has become the second largest source of foreign direct investments from ASEAN, next to Singapore.

In 2007, 65,695 Malaysians tourists visited the Philippines, an increase of 23.3% compared to the number of Malaysians who visited in 2006.

The Philippines also has active collaboration with Malaysia under the RP-Malaysia defense cooperation.

FM Dr. Rais will be accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Masnah Rais, and other Malaysian officials during the visit. END

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