PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday underscored the importance of reinvigorating trade, diplomacy and politics, and people-to-people ties with other nations as well as pursuing more areas of cooperation like on climate change, tourism and technology.
The President received yesterday in Malacañang German Ambassador Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke and Iranian Ambassador Yousef Esmaeil Zadeh who submitted their credentials.
Marcos said there is a “great deal of promise” in further strengthening the relations between the Philippines and Germany especially in terms of trade, diplomacy, politics, and people-to-people relations amid the recent development in the world.
“There are many things that I think we can do. I hope few of them will come to fruition so that we can say that we have done the fullest that we can do in this partnership,” he said.
The President said Manila and Berlin should also continue to strengthen climate cooperation.
“I always describe it as really the first truly global problem that humanity faces because it’s global in the sense that everybody is affected. And it’s also global because we cannot solve it without everybody doing their part. It is axiomatic to me to say that no country can do this alone. The economy, climate change, energy, all of these things have to be done in partnership. So, let’s look in that direction Mr. Ambassador,” he told Pfaffernoschke.
The Philippines and Germany recently signed an agreement to hold regular interdepartmental consultations about ongoing and pipeline technical cooperation projects.
Pfaffernoschke vowed to foster Philippine-German relations particularly in the areas of trade, investment and economic cooperation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and in maintaining international order based on the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter.
He also committed Germany’s support for the relaunching of the Philippines-European Union (EU) free trade agreement negotiations, as he highlighted the importance of strong economic relations between the Manila and Berlin.
“That (PH-EU FTA) was… what we in Germany really pushed for. We pushed the information to do this and our business people here are very keen on really exploring new possibilities and new ideas and new business opportunities both ways, of course, not just for the German industry here but also for the Philippine industry in Germany,” Pfaffernoschke said.
The Philippines’ total trade with Germany reached S$4.7 billion last year, with S$2.8 billion in exports and S$1.9 billion in imports. It is also the country’s top trading partner in the EU.
Major German companies operating in the Philippines include Deutsche Bank (banking), Bosch (automotive after-market and power tools business), Siemens (information and communications), STEAG 210-megawatt hard-coal-fired power plant in Misamis Oriental, and Bayer Philippines Inc.
The Philippines and Germany are celebrating its 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2024.
Marcos, meanwhile, wished Esmaeil Zadeh a successful tour of duty in the Philippines that is “geared towards the strengthening of longstanding relationship between the Philippines and Iran.”
The envoy, for his part, vowed to do his utmost best to continue building on the friendly relationship and the shared vision for the future of the two countries
The Philippines and Iran also agreed to initiate high-level contacts to discuss areas of cooperation such as agriculture, trade and investment, technology, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Esmaeil Zadeh said the two countries can cooperate on science, and maritime security where “Iran is doing very well.”
He also suggested organizing a barter, with Iran sending the Philippines fertilizer and importing tropical fruits.
The Philippines and Iran are celebrating its 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.
