Kuala Lumpur, 15 March 2025 — H.E. Ambassador Maria Angela A. Ponce paid a courtesy call on the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Hon. Tan Sri Dato' (Dr.) Johari bin Abdul, on 13 March 2025 at the Speaker’s Office in the Malaysian Parliament.

Ambassador Ponce congratulated the Honorable Speaker on his Presidency of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). Recalling his visit to Manila in January, where the Honorable Speaker held key discussions with Senate President Senator Francis Joseph Escudero and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the Ambassador reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to supporting Malaysia’s priorities for its AIPA Presidency.

Both sides highlighted the robust bilateral relations and agreed on expanding avenues of cooperation on education, halal, Islamic finance, tourism, food security, renewable energy and contributing to the economic development of Mindanao.

The Honorable Speaker also emphasized the importance of not only fostering intra-ASEAN trade but also strengthening ASEAN unity and upholding ASEAN as a Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality.

Ambassador Ponce was accompanied by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Kara Denise C. Frayco at the meeting. END

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