Speaker Ferdinand Martin G . Romualdez presents to his counterpart, Speaker of Malaysia’s House of Representative Tan Sri Dato (Dr.) Johari Bin Abdul, a copy of House Resolution No. 2192 at the plenary hall of the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 28, 2025). Johari led a delegation of Members of Parliament on an official visit to the House. HR 2192, adopted on Monday, expressed sincere appreciation to Speaker Johari on his visit “to further promote and strengthen inter-parliamentary relations and cooperation between the Republic of the Philippines and Malaysia.”
THE House of Representatives has expressed its “sincere appreciation” to Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr.) Johari Bin Abdul, Speaker of Malaysia’s House of Representatives on his visit “to further promote and strengthen inter-parliamentary relations and cooperation between the Republic of the Philippines and Malaysia.”
The expression is contained in House Resolution No. 2192 that the House adopted Monday night. It was authored by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre of Tingog Party-list.
Speaker Romualdez and his co-authors said the visit of the Speaker’s Malaysian counterpart “is a concrete manifestation of the Philippines’ and Malaysia’s enduring mutual respect and cooperation as members of AIPA (ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly), and their reaffirmation to revitalize their desire to work together for the enhancement of their relations, sharing the same vision of achieving regional peace and economic development.”
“As immediate neighbors, the Philippines and Malaysia recognize the importance of maintaining peace and security in the ASEAN region and agree to continue cooperation on political and security matters, rekindling the joint initiatives and meetings to combat transnational crime and terrorism, and reinvigorate trade and investment exchanges, with a special focus on the halal industry, agriculture and food security, and the digital economy,” they said.
They said the two countries, as trading partners, traded and exchanged goods with a total value of RM36.12 billion (US$7.92 billion) in 2023, making the Philippines Malaysia’s 17th largest global partner and the fifth largest among ASEAN members.
They noted that “since 1959, Philippines and Malaysia have diplomatic relations, which was officially upgraded to a consulate on May 18, 1964, and both countries have remained dedicated to mutual respect and collaboration.”
In its resolution, the House also expressed its sincere appreciation to Malaysia for accepting the task of hosting the 46th AIPA General Assembly to be held in Kuala Lumpur in September this year, and for inviting Speaker Romualdez to attend and send a delegation to the conference.
Speaker Romualdez’s Malaysian counterpart is the president of AIPA’s 46th General Assembly.
The resolution also noted that Malaysia will assume the chairmanship of ASEAN this year.
“As Malaysia and the Philippines look forward to Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025 and its hosting of the 46th AIPA General Assembly in September 2025, these events reinforce the importance of unity and cooperation in navigating the challenges and opportunities ahead,” read the House resolution.
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