RP to host joint commission meeting with Malaysia

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will host the 7th Philippines-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) in Manila from Aug. 21 to 22, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. A statement on the DFA website said the meet aims to review and discuss implementation of cooperative undertakings, and to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries. "During the 7th JCM, it is expected that the Philippines and Malaysia will revitalize existing initiatives and explore new opportunities in the areas of political and security, trade and investment, education, health, tourism and culture, agriculture, information cooperation, environment and the welfare of Filipino migrant workers," it said. Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Serf Utama Dr. Rais Yatim, who was in Manila in May 2008 for an Official Visit, will lead the Malaysian delegation to the 7th JCM. DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo will lead the Philippine delegation to the meeting. The Philippines and Malaysia established diplomatic relations on May 18, 1964. Since then, bilateral relations at all fields have reached a new level. JCM is a consultative and monitoring mechanism to facilitate discussion and implementation of cooperative undertakings between the two countries. Its establishment in 1993 was agreed upon by Former President Fidel Ramos and former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. The Philippines and Malaysia celebrates a decade and a half of cooperative discussions under the JCM. Previous JCMs were held in 1993, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2006. - GMANews.TV