PHILIPPINES SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON TWO-DAY VISIT TO M'SIA

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- The newly appointed Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Albert F.Del Rosario will call on Foreign Minister Anifah Aman at Putrajaya, Thursday.

Rosario, will be here for an introductory visit on March 31 and April 1, after his appointment by President Benigno S. Aquino on Feb 24, this year.

The Foreign Ministry in a statement Wednesday said that the visit would provide an opportunity for the two ministers to discuss matters of mutual interest to further strengthen the already close and cordial relation between the two countries.

Manila is scheduled to host the 7th Joint Commission Meeting between Malaysia and the Philippines on April 14 and 15.

On bilateral trade, it said that Malaysia and the Philippines have enjoyed many years of beneficial economic and expanding trade relation in which the total bilateral trade have increased from US$3.38 billion (RM10.7 billion) in 2009 to US$6.62 billion (RM20.5 billion) last year.

Due to the fact that Malaysia is a close neighbour to the Philippines, Malaysia has been actively engaged in the on-going efforts to bring peace to the Southern Philippines, in consultation with their government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as well as other parties.

Malaysia is currently the Third Party Facilitator in the Peace Process between the Philippine Government and MILF, and at the same time leading the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao since it was first deployed in 2004.