NAGPAHAYAG ng pagsuporta ng Germany sa pagkakaroon ng negosasyon para sa Philippines-European Union (EU) free trade agreement.

Ipinahayag ni Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke, ang ambassador-designate to the Philippines ng Germany ang pagsuporta ng kanyang gobyerno sa negosasyon ng free trade agreement sa pakikipag-usap nito kay Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa Malacañang.

“That was… what we in Germany really pushed for. We pushed the information to do this and our business people here are very keen on really exploring new possibilities and new ideas and new business opportunities both ways, of course, not just for the German industry here but also for the Philippine industry in Germany,” ani Pfaffernoschke.

Kinilala rin ni Pfaffernoschke ang pagbisita sa Pilipinas kamakailan ni EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen para sa relaunching ng Philippines-EU free trade negotiations.

“So, I think there is a real promising path that lies ahead. And as you said, people-to-people relations are already strong and they might become even stronger once we exchange even more skilled workers from the Philippines to Germany, also Germans coming to the Philippines. So strong ties we already do have, we might even foster in the years to come. And I think that is the basis for good relations,” sabi ni Pfaffernoschke.

Binigyang-halaga naman ng Pangulong Marcos ang pagpapalakas ng kalakalan ng dalawang bansa na makatutulong umano sa paglago ng global economy at pagkakaroon economic stability.

Nagpasalamat din si Pangulong Marcos sa Germany sa pagtanggap nito ng mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“That provides a very good foundation for us to explore other things. So, I think the continuing development cooperation between our two countries is going to grow only more important in the near future even in the medium term,” ani Pangulong Marcos.

“And I’m glad that I was able to welcome you simply to mark perhaps a new beginning in what we have been doing before between Germany and the Philippines. And I say a new beginning simply because an important aspect to this transformation of our economies is to realize that it is a different world post-pandemic and with (the armed conflict in) Ukraine,” dagdag pa nito.

Nagsimula ang diplomatic relations ng Pilipinas at Germany noong Oktobre 8, 1954.

Noong 2022, ang Germany ang ika-12 pinakamalaking trading partner ng Pilipinas.