P9M set aside for Aquino's Malaysia state visit—Palace - Inquirer.net

INQUIRER.net

5:32 pm | Thursday, February 27th, 2014

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — At least P9 million was set aside for the first state visit of President Benigno Aquino III to Malaysia on Thursday, Malacañang said in a statement.

Aquino in his state visit from February 27 to March 1 would “tackle several issues of mutual or shared interest in political, economic, and defense cooperation with Malaysian leaders,” executive secretary Paquito Ochoa said on Thursday.

“President Aquino will also witness the signing of a couple of agreements on cultural cooperation and education cooperation,” he added.

The fund for the visit covers transportation, accommodation, food, equipment and other requirements of the president and his 57-member official delegation.

Accompanying the president are Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles, Press Secretary Herminio Coloma, Presidential Management Staff Chief Julia Andrea Abad, Mindanao Development Authority Chairperson Luwalhati Antonino and Presidential Protocol Chief Celia Anna Feria.

Aquino visited Kuala Lumpur upon the invitation of King or Supreme Head of State Tuanku Abdul Halim and Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The president is also expected to consolidate in Malaysia the peace and development of Mindanao in light of the sealed peace deal between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front with Malaysia as facilitator.

“Malaysia has been the facilitator of the Mindanao peace process since 2001. In our view, they invested in that process as we are in the Philippine government,” Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya said in a separate statement Thursday.

The president is also expected to inaugurate the first Petron gas station in Malaysia.

RELATED STORIES

Aquino leaves for Malaysia

No Sabah talk when Aquino visits Malaysia this month

Follow Us

Recent Stories:

Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines.

Tags: Benigno Aquino III , Diplomacy , Foreign affairs , Global Nation , international relations , Malacañang , Malaysia , State budget , state visit

Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer's day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer's Reader's Advocate. Or write The Readers' Advocate:

Source: Top Stories - Google News