Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will fly to Manila on Wednesday for an official visit that will include a meeting with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.  to talk about bilateral matters as well as regional and international concerns.

The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the announcement on Tuesday, adding that it will be Anwar's maiden visit to the Philippines after being sworn in as the 10th prime minister of Malaysia.

"Both are expected to discuss various bilateral matters, such as security cooperation, halal industry collaboration and digital economy cooperation," the ministry said in its press release.

"Both sides will also be exchanging views on regional and international issues of mutual interest," it added.

Anwar will be accompanied by his spouse, who is also a member of the Malaysian Parliament, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. His delegation, meanwhile, will include the heads of Malaysian Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, and Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development ministries.

The visit, which will happen on March 1 and 2, reflects the good ties of the two countries as close neighbors and partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ministry said.

"It will provide an excellent opportunity for both sides to advance the partnership for progress, guided by shared interest, increased political and economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges," it added.

At the University of the Philippines, Anwar will deliver a public lecture focusing on strategic ASEAN takeaways. He will also hold an engagement session with the Malaysian diaspora in the country.

In 2022, the Philippines was Malaysia's 15th largest trading partner globally and the 5th largest among ASEAN members, with total trade amounting to 9.42 billion US dollars.