In successive visits to Germany and the Czech Republic, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has achieved salient diplomatic and economic gains.
Leaders of both countries affirmed their support for the Philippines’ adherence to international law on issues related to the South China Sea. Moreover, key agreements were forged, enhancing the quality of the country’s trade and investment portfolios.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared in a joint press conference with President Marcos his country’s full backing for the arbitral tribunal ruling that upheld the Philippines’ position, emphasizing the importance of a rules-based regime in settling maritime disputes. Noting that 60 percent of global trade goes through the South China Sea, Czech Republic President Petr Pavel said: “We fully support the Philippines when it comes to (its) entitlement to free movement of goods because that’s a principle (that) not only we respect but (which) also secures global and regional stability.”

When the late former President Benigno S. Aquino III visited Germany in 2014 to mark the 60th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations, he recalled the visit made by his mother, President Corazon Aquino in 1989 shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall – a historical watershed widely regarded as part of the democratic renaissance that was triggered by the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986.  Addressing then Chancellor Angela Merkel, he said: “Germany is a key ally, a strategic partner, and a reliable friend of the Philippines. With this visit, we reaffirm the deep partnership between our countries. By focusing on our mutual interests and our common aspirations and concerns, we are given the opportunity to propel our already robust relationship to even greater heights.”

When President Vaclav Havel visited the Philippines in 1995, he discussed the expansion of bilateral ties with the late former President Fidel Ramos. He also thanked the Filipinos for the inspiration provided by their People Power movement to citizens of erstwhile communist-ruled countries in Europe that eventually opted for democracy.

With such deeply-rooted precedents, President Marcos’ twin visits were, indeed, both timely and imperative – building upon decades of shared aspirations and fulfilled commitments.

During the Philippines-Germany Business Forum in Berlin, President Marcos secured $4 billion or approximately ₱220 billion in investment deals. These are in the strategic areas of health care and innovation, covering a digitalization partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure safety, quality, accessibility and affordability of healthcare, as well as training of hospital personnel. Siemens Healthcare, Inc. is at the forefront of these initiatives. Airbus and Lufthansa are other proponents of pathfinding projects that will beef up local capability in aviation maintenance, as well as the aviation aspects of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program.

For its part, the Czech Republic is keen on pursuing joint initiatives that will diversify the Philippines’ economic profile, particularly in agriculture, cybersecurity, aviation and energy. President Marcos urged Czech firms to invest in minerals processing to improve the country’s resiliency amid global supply chain disruptions. Follow-on meetings in Manila with agribusiness leaders have already been lined up.

Hopefully, the President’s earnest diplomatic efforts would be supported fully by the business sector and the citizenry to boost the country’s sustained economic growth and prosperity.