(File photo)
MANILA, (PIA) -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to report the vital gains he helped secure for the Philippines, including at least P6.2 billion worth of investment deals, during his participation at the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Brussels, Belgium, upon his expected return flight home Thursday evening.
Pres. Marcos will arrive and meet the press at the Bulwagang Maharlika in Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, following his reportedly fruitful first visit to the European continent as President and his sixth foreign visit since he assumed the presidency.
The Chief Executive earlier participated and addressed the summit where members of two major regional bloc — the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) met.
There, Pres. Marcos urged the EU to work on the materialization of the Philippine-EU free trade agreement as he said the Western bloc is missing some business opportunities that other Asian nations enjoy with the country, adding that he looks forward to a closer economic cooperation not only between the two regional blocs but also between the EU and the Philippines. He also delivered closing keynote at the 10th ASEAN-EU Business Summit.
The President, likewise, participated in at least 10 bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Belgium, Estonia, Czech Republic, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Finland, Netherlands and leaders of the EU, on the sidelines of the events.
Moreover, Pres. Marcos reportedly earned praises from European business executives for his performance at the C-Suite Luncheon, in which he called for more European investments in the Philippines as well as he asked for more support from Europe on climate action issues.
The Chief Executive, likewise, echoed to the EU his agenda on climate change, which could be effectively addressed if nations get together and work hand in hand.
He also particularly asked his fellow leaders to continue supporting the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, which at this point, “needs all the support it can get.”
He said the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, which is based in the Philippines and manages the preservation of all 51 ASEAN heritage parks dotted all over the region and represent ASEAN’s diverse ecosystems.
Moreover, Pres. Marcos and King Philippe of Belgium have met at the Royal Palace of Brussels where both leaders discussed their nations’ four-year joint action plan that could further enhance bilateral cooperation and allow the two countries to discuss regional and global issues of mutual concern.
According to a statement by the Office of the Press Secretary, the President was able to express his intention to strengthen the bilateral relations of the Philippines and Belgium in various areas of cooperation through the Philippines-Belgium Joint Plan of Action for 2023 until 2027.
Pres. Marcos also met and was warmly welcomed by Filipinos from different parts of Europe during a community meetup in Belgium where he emphasized that his administration will continue pushing for measures and programs to help all OFWs in Europe. (PIA-NCR)
