In a significant diplomatic move, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines has voiced his ambition to significantly enhance the nation’s economic, defense, and diplomatic relations with the Czech Republic. This declaration came during a pivotal meeting with Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová at Malacañan Palace in Manila on February 20, 2025.
Marcos Jr. expressed a strong sense of optimism about the future of the Philippines-Czech Republic partnership, emphasizing potential growth in people-to-people connections, economic collaborations, defense and security cooperation, and governmental interactions. He highlighted the vast potential for joint ventures and the need to explore new areas of cooperation.
The President also acknowledged Černochová’s visit as a clear sign of the strengthening ties between Manila and Prague, especially following his own visit to the Czech Republic in March 2024. During that visit, Marcos met with Czech President Petr Pavel, discussing a wide range of bilateral engagements from trade and investment to defense and cybersecurity.
Černochová, on her part, expressed admiration for the Filipino people, describing them as ‘very nice, kind, and hardworking.’ This visit underscores the ongoing efforts to deepen the relationship between the two countries.
Significant outcomes from Marcos’s previous visit to the Czech Republic include the signing of the Joint Communiqué on Labor Consultations Mechanism, aimed at safeguarding the rights of over 7,000 Filipino workers in the Czech Republic, who are engaged in various sectors including processing, automotive, manufacturing, IT, real estate, health, and household services.