Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala is arriving in Manila on Sunday night, April 16, for a two-day visit to mark an important milestone in the European nation's diplomatic relations with the Philippines.
Fiata will sit down with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. at the Malacañang Palace on Monday, his first day in Manila, as the two sides prepare to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations on October 5.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the two leaders will discuss issues of mutual interest, including in the fields of defense cooperation, trade and investment, university linkages, judicial cooperation, and labor cooperation
"They will also exchange views on regional and international issues of common concern," the DFA added.
Photo courtesy of Prime Minister Petr Fiala's Twitter page
In December 2022, Fiala and Marcos already met for the first time when the Philippine leader flew to Belgium for the commemorative summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU).
There, they discussed cooperation in the security sector in the context of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program. Meanwhile, the year 2019 witnessed the first convention of Filipino and Czech officials at the Joint Defense Committe.
During their first bilateral talk in Brussels, Marcos also sought assistance from Fiala in the transfer of technology in the defense sector as he said it can elevate the defense production abilities in the country.
"It's something that has been very helpful to the program of modernization that we are undergoing for defense forces in the Philippines especially now that we have... we are trying to strengthen the capabilities of our Coast Guard," Marcos told Fiala by then.
"But what would be even more interesting is besides just the equipment, would be the transfer of technology from your country to mine so that you are able to produce some of the material that is now being provided by other countries and perhaps use... make the Philippines a center for all that, the logistics," he added.
Fiala will depart from the Philippines late Tuesday afternoon.
Manila attaches high importance to its ties with Prague as well as other members of the European Union, and endeavors to advance such ties across political, economic and security areas. The coordinator of ASEAN in dialogue partnership until 2024, the Philippines committed to foster vibrant and meaningful cooperation between the two regional blocs.
"Philippines’ relations with European states, including with the Czech Republic, are energized by mutual interests in upholding democracy and freedom, rule of law, peace and stability and human rights," DFA said.
Among the meaningful connections between the two countries in the past were: the visits of first Jesuits and scientific expeditions to Philippines from Europe, the famed friendship between Dr. Jose Rizal and Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt; and the shared heroism of Filipinos and citizens of then Czechoslovakia fighting alongside each other in the battle of Bataan during the Second World War, according to DFA.