By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, March 1 (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III said upon returning to Manila from Kuala Lumpur before dawn Saturday that he was satisfied with the outcome of his state visit to Malaysia.
The President shared the recollections of his two-day visit in an arrival statement he delivered at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in Pasay City.
He said that upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, he was immediately welcomed by the Filipino community to which he shared the Aquino administration’s notable achievements, including the robust 7.2 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth amid the global financial difficulties, the elimination of the backlog in classrooms and school equipment, and government reform measures, among others.
He also cited the inauguration of the first Petron service station in Malaysia which he described as another feat the country has achieved.
The President also said he was impressed with how Filipino workers in Malaysia managed to group themselves together to make efforts to protect their welfare more effectively.
He added that he was even more impressed with how a group of Filipinos chipped in for the renovation of the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur, where P11 million was raised.
President Aquino said that his meeting with Malaysian King Yang di-Pertuan Agong allowed him to properly discuss with the King the foundation created by member countries of the ASEAN to strengthen ties.
He also said that his discussions with Prime Minister Najib Razak were fruitful, adding that based on body language alone, it was clear how positive the ties of both countries remain.
“Nagbunga ito ng mga kasunduang paigtingin ang kalakal sa pagitan ng Malaysia at Pilipinas,” the President stressed. “Partikular po nating tututukan ang industriya ng Halal.”
“Ipinarating din po ni Prime Minister Najib na handang sumuporta ang kanyang bansa sa larangan ng Islamic Banking and Financing, na tiyak na makakaambag sa pagpapalago ng ekonomiya sa Muslim Mindanao,” he said.
The President also recalled mother topics he discussed with the Prime Minister, including the signing of two documents — the Memorandum of Understanding on Education and the Memorandum of Agreement on Culture, Arts, and Heritage Cooperation.
Furthermore, he said that both countries reached an agreement to reinforce cooperation for national security.
He also expressed gratitude to the Malaysian government for its help in post-typhoon “Yolanda” rehabilitation efforts in Central Philippines and efforts to push for long lasting peace in Mindanao.
President Aquino said he also managed to include a meeting with Malaysian businessmen in his tight schedule, adding he invited them to invest in Mindanao.
“Ngayon nga pong natatanaw na natin ang kapayapaan sa rehiyong iyon, umaasa din tayo sa napipintong pagpasok ng marami pa pong mga negosyo, at sa panganganak nito ng mas maraming oportunidad para sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
“Kung ganito nga pong hindi lamang tayong mga Pilipino, kundi pati ang ating mga karatig-bansa ay handang tumaya sa kinabukasan ng Mindanao, lalo po tayong nasasabik sa katuparan ng mga pangarap para sa Lupang Pangako,” he added. (PNA)