Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario urged the German government to set aside the issue of Fraport’s anomalous NAIA-3 deal and focus instead on strengthening trade, political and cultural relations with the Philippines.
Del Rosario is flying to Berlin on Wednesday to meet with German Federal Minister Dr. Guido Westerwelle, to "convey the message that the Philippines regards Germany as one of its strongest economic, political and cultural partners in Europe," according to a statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The chief diplomat’s trip marks the first time in 10 years that a Philippine Foreign Affairs secretary visits Germany.
According to the DFA statement, “Relations between the Philippines and Germany have strengthened in many areas despite the Fraport issue,” and that Del Rosario said his visit is expected to further boost robust bilateral ties between the two countries.
The statement noted that Del Rosario previously expressed to German Minister of State Werner Hoyer, "that the two countries should abstract the Fraport issue from the overall bilateral relations and treat the matter separately to allow a full focus on advancing the important bilateral agenda between the Philippines and Germany."
German investors in PHL
Del Rosario and Westerwelle are set to discuss international issues that concern the Philippines and Germany, particularly ongoing German development projects in the Philippines and new areas of cooperation, the DFA said.
The DFA secretary will be highlighting the strong confidence of German investors in the Philippines as evidenced by the influx of German investments in the Philippines, which include global business heavyweights Deutsche Bank, Lufthansa Teknik, Contintental Temic, and STEAG.
“[The two officials] will [also] sign a Joint Declaration of Intent on cultural relations between the Philippines and Germany that seeks closer cooperation in the areas of literary works, performing arts, film and television, museology, heritage and art conservation, among others,” said the DFA.
“Germany is the Philippines’ 12th largest source of foreign direct investments,” according to the department “Germany is the Philippines’ third largest bilateral donor after Japan and the US… Germany is also the Philippines’ second largest source market of tourists in Europe,” it added. — VS,
