SIGNIFICANT VISIT: Najib arriving at the Villamor Airbase in Bulwagang Kalayaan. — Bernama photo
MANILA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak arrived here yesterday for a three-day official visit, including witnessing the signing ceremony of the historic Framework Agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), aimed at ending the protracted conflict in Mindanao, today.
The flight carrying Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor touched down at the Villamor Airbase, here about 4.10pm (local time).
The prime minister and wife were received by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F.Del Rosario, Philippines Ambassador to Malaysia J.Eduardo Malaya and the Charge d’Affaires of the Malaysian embassy in Manila, Zakaria Nasir.
The prime minister will have a tight schedule today, beginning with a wreath-laying ceremony at Luneta Park (Rizal Park) here, followed by an official welcoming ceremony at the Malacanang Palace grounds.
Immediately after signing the guest book at the palace’s Reception Hall, Najib will proceed to a closed-door meeting with Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III at the President’s Hall of the Malacanang Palace.
After that, Najib will lead the Malaysian delegation to an Expanded Bilateral Meeting to be participated by Anifah, Ahmad Zahid and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, at the President’s Hall.
The meeting will be followed with a Joint Press Statement.
After attending the official luncheon hosted by Aquino, the prime minister and the president will witness the signing ceremony of the landmark GPH-MILF Framework Agreement at Rizal Hall.
Najib is scheduled to deliver a speech, followed by Aquino, at the event, which among others will be attended by Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) secretary-general Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.
MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim is also scheduled to deliver a statement at the event, which marks an important milestone towards sealing durable peace in conflict-ridden Mindanao.
Malaysia facilitated and hosted the peace talks between the GPH and MILF since 2001, culminating in the announcement simultaneously in Manila and Kuala Lumpur on Oct 7 of the long awaited peace agreement.
The framework agreement is a road map for establishing a new autonomous region to be administered by the Muslims in the nation’s south, and is aimed at paving the way for a long, lasting peace after more than 40 years of conflict in the resource rich but impoverished region.
It will also lay the foundation for a more detailed implementation of the peace agreement.
Besides this, the prime minister will also attend a business dialogue with the Philippines-Malaysia Business Council, at a hotel here today.
At 7.30pm, the prime minister and wife are scheduled to attend the ‘Majlis Mesra Bersama Rakyat Malaysia’ at a hotel here, where about 150 people, comprising Malaysian students, businessmen and their family members, would attend.
Najib and Rosmah are scheduled to depart for home on Tuesday morning. — Bernama