The Philippines and Malaysia will continue political and economic cooperation. The two sides agreed to relaunch their joint meeting and explore trade opportunities in the Halal industry.

Earlier, Philippine President Marcos and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar held a bilateral meeting on Wednesday, 1 March. Anwar was the first head of government received by the Marcos Jr. administration.

'We agreed to continue cooperating on political, political and security affairs, to restart the Joint Commission Meeting, and to take joint action against transnational crime and terrorism,' Marcos Jr. said in a joint press statement on Wednesday evening.

Anwar added that the meeting would be chaired by the two countries' foreign ministers later this year.

The previous JCM was held in Manila in 2011. A statement from Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated 15 April 2011 noted that the eighth JCM was originally scheduled to be hosted by Malaysia in 2013.

The two leaders also discussed peace efforts in Mindanao, which Anwar said would continue to be assisted through the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme, as well as tensions in the region.

Anwar said: 'We did discuss the South China Sea issue. Like President Marcos, I am concerned that, given the complexity and sensitivity of this issue, we should try to engage and take a position at the multilateral level among ASEAN, so that we have a comprehensive approach and reach an amicable solution to this outstanding issue.'

The two leaders also pledged to expand trade and investment opportunities to kick-start post-pandemic recovery.

Marcos Jr. said: 'We agreed to revitalize trade and investment exchanges, with special focus on the Halal industry, agriculture and food security, and the digital economy.'

Anwar will stay in the Philippines until Thursday, 2 March. He will be awarded an honorary degree by the University of the Philippines in recognition of his contributions to democracy, the economy and Islam.

He will also deliver a public lecture titled 'Thirty Years After the Asian Renaissance: ASEAN's Strategic Imperatives.'

FAQ

What progress have the Philippines and Malaysia made on Halal industry cooperation?
At a bilateral meeting between Philippine President Marcos and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar, the two countries agreed to restart the Joint Commission Meeting (the previous JCM was held in Manila in 2011) and explore trade opportunities in the Halal industry, pledging to expand trade and investment exchanges with special focus on the Halal industry, agriculture and food security, and the digital economy, in order to kick-start post-pandemic recovery.