Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will visit neighbouring Philippines tomorrow with regional security and violence in southern Philippines high on the agenda, said Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

Syed Hamid said the Prime Minister and Philippine President Gloria Arroyo would also discuss existing economic ties between the two countries.

"The visit is aimed to bolster relations between the two neighbours," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency Sunday.

Muslim separatist rebels and armed bandits, including groups allied to al-Qaeda and its Southeast Asian wing, Jemaah Islamiah (JI), are active in the southern Philippines.

Abdullah who became the country's fifth premier on Oct 31, replacing former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is touring member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), a tradition when a new leader comes to office.

Abdullah would visit Laos today and has already visited Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. Asean also includes Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma. - AFP