Czech Prime Minister visiting Philippines this week

MANILA, Philippines — Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala starts in the Philippines his 10-day visit to Asian countries that are interested in cooperation with the Czech Republic for the creation of alternative markets as counterbalance to Chinese dominance.

Fiala was scheduled to arrive in Manila last night. He will also visit Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Kazakhstan before ending his trip in Uzbekistan on April 25.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said President Marcos would welcome the Prime Minister and hold a bilateral meeting this week.

“The visit marks an important milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two countries, as Manila and Prague prepare to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on 5 October,” it said in a statement.

Also with Fiala is a 30-member business delegation that includes representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Export Guarantee and Insurance Co. and Czech Export Bank as well as from engineering companies and manufacturers of aircraft technology and weapons.

The 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.

Fiala and Marcos met in December 2022 in Brussels on the sidelines of the commemorative summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and European Union. They discussed cooperation in the security sector in the context of the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program. Philippine and Czech officials convened the Joint Defense Committee for the first time in 2019.

The DFA said the Philippines gives high importance to its ties with the Czech Republic and members of the EU and endeavors to advance these ties across political, economic and security areas.

Philippine relations with European states, including with the Czech Republic, are energized by mutual interests in upholding democracy and freedom, rule of law, peace and stability and human rights.

The Philippines is committed to fostering vibrant and meaningful cooperation between ASEAN and the EU, as the ASEAN coordinator of the dialogue partnership until 2024.

Meaningful connections between the Filipino and Czech nations find historical inspiration in the visits of first Jesuits and scientific expeditions to Philippines from the European continent, the famed friendship between Dr. Jose Rizal and professor Ferdinand Blumentritt, and the shared heroism of Filipinos and citizens of then Czechoslovakia fighting alongside each other in the battle of Bataan during the Second World War.