MANILA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak arrived here on Sunday for a three-day official visit, including witnessing the signing of the historic Framework Agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The Prime Minister will have a tight schedule, beginning with a wreath-laying ceremony at Luneta Park (Rizal Park) here on Monday, followed by an official welcoming ceremony at the Malacanang Palace.

Najib will hold 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 with the president.

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.

Meanwhile, Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will deliver a speech at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Makati.

Among dignitaries scheduled to attend the event are Kris Aquino, sister of the Philippine president, and AIM president Dr Stevan J. DeKrey.

Rosmah, who is an alumni of the institute, will also tour the AIM campus.

- Bernama