By Prince Golez
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reported a successful trip to Europe on Thursday, his first visit to the continent since becoming president, securing P9.8 billion in investment pledges.
“I am also pleased to announce that European business confidence in PH is high as evidenced by the expansion plans of European companies that were met in the sectors of fast-moving consumer goods, shipbuilding, renewable energy and green metals,” Marcos Jr. said in his arrival statement following his attendance to the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Brussels, Belgium.
The presidential plane carrying the President and the Philippine delegation arrived 6:58 p.m. at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
During the gala dinner hosted by the EU, the President stated that he discussed ASEAN-EU cooperation, particularly connectivity, trade, green and digital transition, food security, and geopolitics.
He was honored to deliver one of the opening remarks during the Summit, where he presented the recent milestones in ASEAN-EU relations – the adoption of the ASEAN-EU Plan of Action for 2023 to 2027 and the signing of the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement, said Marcos Jr.
“I also welcomed the adoption of the Joint Leaders’ Statement at the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit, which is the product of intensive discussions between ASEAN and EU Member States through our Ambassadors to ASEAN in Jakarta.
“This is a very significant development that EU has turned very, very distinctly towards the Asia-Pacific region when it comes to the driving force behind the new global economy,” he pointed out.
At the 10th ASEAN-EU Business Summit, Marcos Jr. said that he was pleased to share the country’s perspective on deepening ASEAN-EU trade through efforts in sustainable development.
On the sidelines of the summit, the President was granted a Royal Audience with King Philippe of Belgium, as well as bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Spain, all of which went well for the Philippines and its partners.
During the summit, the President also met with Filipinos in Belgium, which he describes as fulfilling because he was “able to hear their concerns and update them regarding the priorities of my administration.”
