MANILA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Malaysia and hope to hold a personal meeting with newly-elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad to talk on "insurgency and IS (Islamic State)" issues next week, Duterte's spokesman said on Monday.
In a tweet on Monday, Philippine presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte spoke to Mahathir on the phone.
Roque said Duterte "wants to talk about insurgency and IS" with Mahathir.
"We will be there (on) July 16. After boxing, (Duterte) will talk with Mahathir," Roque added, referring to the fight of Filipino boxer-turned-senator Emmanuel Pacquiao with Argentinian boxer Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. Pacquiao is a close political ally of Duterte.
Roque said the exact dates of Duterte's "private" trip to Malaysia are still being finalized.