Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri received Federal Republic of Germany Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke on May 13 at the Philippine Senate.
The Senate President expressed appreciation and gratitude for Germany’s support for the Philippines and the freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea.
The Senate President is elated knowing that the Philippines has friends in Europe, like Germany, to which the Ambassador emphasized that like-minded countries should stick together.
Cognizant of the capacities that needed to be strengthened, the Ambassador confirmed Germany has received an invitation to become an observer in future Balikatan Exercises.
Senate President Zubiri looks forward for the continuation of collaboration between the Philippines and Germany and hopes to obtain Germany’s support for the resumption of the Philippines-European Union Free Trade Agreement (PH-EU FTA) negotiations.
From his end, Ambassador Pfaffernoschke looks forward to bolstering strengthened cooperation with the Philippines and intends to bring in more investments to the Philippines.
The Philippines and Germany will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in October this year.
Their bilateral relations are seen to be characterized by mutual respect, robust cooperation in trade and investment, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and a shared commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based international order.
(Photo credit: Francis Santocildes, OSP)
