Berlin and Manila have reaffirmed the strength of their bilateral relationship following a telephone conversation between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday. According to Sebastian Hille, Deputy Government Spokesperson, Chancellor Merz acknowledged the positive state of relations between Germany and the Philippines.
The Philippines, as a member of ASEAN, holds significant importance for Germany as a regional partner, both within the ASEAN framework and through direct bilateral cooperation. During the discussion, Merz and Marcos Jr. agreed to further strengthen economic ties, recognizing substantial potential for increased collaboration.
Germany is considered the Philippines’ most important trading and investment partner among European Union member states. A program facilitating the recruitment of Filipino nurses for employment in Germany has been in place for several years, further solidifying the economic link between the two nations.