GMA to visit Malaysia in August

President Arroyo is set to visit Malaysia in August upon the invitation of the government in Kuala Lumpur.

The trip will be Mrs. Arroyo’s first abroad after assuming power last Jan. 20 following the ouster of President Joseph Estrada in a military-backed civilian uprising.

Mrs. Arroyo was personally invited by Malaysian Defense Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who visited the country last June 30. The foreigner was accompanied to Malacañang by Malaysian Ambassador Mohd Arshad Manzour Hussain and ranking Malaysian military officials.

The Philippines and Malaysia on Friday pledged to step up cooperation in patrolling their common border amid problems ranging from piracy to kidnappings, the defense ministers of the two countries said yesterday.

Najib met with Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to discuss the hostage crisis in Mindanao involving the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

During the ministerial talks, "it was the understanding that there is a need to further strengthen the exchange of information between the two countries in their common border areas, more so in light of recent events," a joint statement said.

"Further meetings at the working level will be necessary to concretize this understanding."– Paolo Romero