(Eagle News) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad discussed “matters of mutual interest” during their meeting on Monday afternoon, July 16, in Malaysia, a day after watching the fight and phenomenal win of Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
The two leaders met at 3 p.m.. Monday at the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office in Putrajaya where they “renewed and reaffirmed the long-standing brotherhood and friendship between the Philippines and Malaysia.”
Duterte and Mahathir also reaffirmed the need for defense and security cooperation in the ASEAN region.
“Both leaders stressed the importance of working closely together bilaterally and at ASEAN to achieve shared aspirations of greater peace, progress and prosperity for the Philippines and Malaysia, and greater stability and security in the region,” Malacanang said in a statement.
President Duterte, for his part, said that there was a need to “address terrorism and violent extremism in the region” as he also renewed the commitment for “defense and security cooperation at the bilateral and regional level.”
“President Duterte pointed out the need to address terrorism and violent extremism in the region, as well as transnational crime such as piracy and armed robbery at sea and the illegal drug trade,” Malacanang said.
The Philippine leader also expressed appreciation for Malaysia’s continuous support for “the question for just and lasting peace and development in Mindanao.”
Malaysia had been helping facilitate the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
A day before this, Duterte and Mahathir both watched the fight of Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao against Argentinian boxer Lucas Matthyse at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday, July 15.
The 93-year old Mahathir even commended Filipino boxer and called that day a “historic” one.
“This is a historical day for Malaysia when we have a Filipino champion fighting in Malaysia witnessed by the leaders of both countries,” Mahathir said in an ambush interview.
“And of course this is part of our boxing diplomacy, [but] we don’t punch each other,” he added.
(Eagle News Service)