MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will visit the Philippines on March 6 to 7 upon the invitation of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Thursday. In a statement, the DFA said Mr. Mahathir will hold a bilateral meeting with Mr. Duterte on March 7 to discuss “cooperation in the political, economic, and people-to-people spheres, and exchange views on the topics of mutual importance.” He is also expected to meet Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and House Speaker Gloria M. Arroyo. The DFA said this would be the first time Mr. Mahathir visited Philippines after returning to his seat as Malaysia’s Prime Minister in 2018. Mr. Mahathir also made official visits to Manila in 1987 and 1994 as prime minister. — Camille A. Aguinaldo
