MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday hosted in Malacañang German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier who is in the country for a three-day state visit. Steinmeier, accompanied by First Lady Elke Büdenbender and the rest of his delegation, arrived in Manila late Monday night.
It is the first time that a sitting German leader has set foot in the country since 1963.
The two leaders are expected to discuss issues of mutual interest, including defense, peacebuilding, maritime cooperation, trade and investment, climate change, renewable energy, and people-to-people exchanges, Malacañang said.
They are also set to discuss regional and international matters of mutual interest, including the Philippines' ongoing chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Germany is the biggest trading and investment partner of the Philippines among European Union (EU) countries.
