Marcos confident in boosting diplomatic ties with Czech Republic

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace, Manila on Thursday, February 20, 2025. (Noel B. Pabalate / PPA POOL)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday expressed confidence in strengthening the diplomatic relationship between the Philippines and the Czech Republic.

He made this statement during a courtesy call by Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová at Malacañang.

“Your visit here is very important, because it establishes the fact that…the discussions that we had in Prague did not end in Prague,” said Marcos in welcoming Černochová.

READ: Marcos arrives in Prague for meeting with Czech president

“[It] continues to go on between our two countries, and I am very optimistic for the future in terms of our relationship with each other–in all things, on the people-to-people side, on the economic side, the defense and security, the diplomatic and the problem with the government; so I think that really there is much that we can do together, and there are many areas that we still need to explore,” he added.

Marcos then recalled his meeting with Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague during a tête-à-tête and bilateral meeting in 2024.

The President said he and Pavel had a productive conversation that even extended beyond their original agenda.

READ: Marcos confident in boosting diplomatic ties with Czech Republic

Černochova expressed gratitude to Marcos for the invitation to Malacañang, noting how impressed she was with what she had seen in the country so far.

“I have to say that from the short time I have already spent in the Philippines, I am very much impressed with the country. Not only through this special visit, but I am also very impressed by all the very nice, kind and hard-working people who are deeply appreciated in the country,” she said.