MANILA, (AFP) - President Gloria Arroyo is to personally thank Prime Ministher Dr Mahathir Mohamad for helping broker peace talks with the Philippines' main Muslim insurgent group, the presidential palace said today.

Arroyo is to make her first foreign trip to Malaysia next month, the palace said in a statement without giving the specific dates. But her aides earlier said the visit would take place from August 7 to 8.

Topping discussions between the two leaders would be Arroyo's economic agenda, improving bilateral ties and ongoing peace talks between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The MILF has been waging a 23-year rebellion to establish an independent Islamic state in the south.

It has signed a ceasefire pact with Manila and a new round of peace negotiations were begun last week hosted by Malaysia.

Border patrols

Both leaders are also expected to discuss strengthening of joint border patrols to prevent Filipino kidnappers from raiding beach resorts off Sabah.

Last year the Muslim Abu Sayyaf gang abducted dozens of European, Malaysian and Filipino hostages in two cross-borders raids.

The captives were released in batches over six-months alleged after huge ransom payments.

The statement noted that both governments have already "intensified joint border patrols in waters separating the two countries."