By Brian Campued
It will be a busy week ahead for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as he is set to receive a high-ranking German official for a state visit to the Philippines and lead the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Russia Commemorative Summit next week.
In a statement Thursday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will visit Manila on June 15-17, a first for a German Head of State since former President Heinrich Lübke’s state visit in 1963.
Marcos and Steinmeier are expected to discuss defense, peacebuilding, maritime cooperation, trade and investment, climate change, renewable energy, people-to-people exchanges, and regional and international matters, including the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship.
Germany is the biggest trading and investment partner of the Philippines among European Union countries, with several German companies operating in the Philippines, including Siemens, Lufthansa Technik, Deutsche Bank, Bayer, and Bosch, among many others.
PCO also noted Germany’s role as development partner of ASEAN since 2016 and its “constant voice for the rule of law and a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.”
Manila and Berlin established diplomatic relations on Oct. 8, 1954.
ASEAN-Russia Commemoration Summit
Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. is slated to visit Kazan, Russia for the ASEAN-Russia Summit on June 17-18 as part of the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia relations.
According to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, the Philippines, as current chair of ASEAN, will lead the review of the bloc’s cooperation and relations with Moscow.
“Ang Russia ay isang ASEAN dialogue partner at bilang ASEAN chair ang Pilipinas, pangungunahan natin ang pagsusuri sa naging takbo ng ating kooperasyon at relasyon sa Russia,” Castro said in the Malacañang press briefing.
“Kasama na rin dito ang pagtatalakay sa mga susunod na hakbang upang higit pang mapalalim at mapalawak ang ugnayan ng Pilipinas at Russia at ng ASEAN,” she added.
On possible energy-related discussions, Castro said Energy Secretary Sharon Garin is interested in exploring options on energy transition and fuel diversification between the Philippines and Russia.
Further details regarding the President’s engagements in Russia, including potential bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, would be provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in a press briefing scheduled on June 15.
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