Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Photo from their Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines — Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala will visit the Philippines early next week for a bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
On Friday, the DFA revealed that Fiala’s visit to the country is an “important milestone” in the relations between Manila and Prague.
“The two leaders will discuss issues of mutual interest with the view of strengthening the bilateral relationship, including 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,” it said in a statement.
Marcos met Fiala on the sidelines of the 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union (Asean-EU) Commemorative Summit in Brussels, Belgium in December 2022, where he sought the assistance of Czech Republic in the transfer of defense technology.
READ: PH, Czech Republic sign pact for future defense projects
Among the other aspects of cooperation they had previously discussed was “in the context of the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program.”
The Philippines, according to the DFA, is “committed to fostering vibrant and meaningful cooperation” between the Asean and the EU – including the Czech Republic – as the Asean’s coordinator for dialogue partnership until 2024.
Next week’s visit of the Czech leader to the Philippines will come ahead of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the two nations’ diplomatic relations in October.
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