02:37.1
And I was happy during the discussions with the President and between the delegations to see the close standpoints of positions, not only on mutual cooperation, but also the international situation, regardless of the long distance, geographical distance between our two countries.
03:00.0
Mr. President, I think you need to speak about many areas of potentially expanded cooperation in the future.
03:07.5
On both these sides, there is strong will and determination to further expand the framework that is built on framework agreements and other documents.
03:22.6
Mr. President, future meetings will continue with that.
03:27.1
Mr. President, I think you need to speak about many areas of potentially expanded cooperation in the future.
03:30.0
Mr. President, I think you need to speak about many areas of potentially expanded cooperation in the future.
04:00.0
Mr. President, I think you need to speak about many areas of potentially expanded cooperation in the future.
04:23.2
Thank you very much.
04:27.0
Thank you very much.
04:28.8
Thank you very much.
04:30.0
I also appreciate the signing of joint communique and the establishment of labor consultations mechanisms. As we all know, the labor market in the Czech Republic suffers from shortage of workforce and the Philippines rank among the top countries that send to us or from where we have top qualified or highly skilled workers.
04:58.1
I am glad that the Philippines are interested in upskilling. We also work on legal and other mechanisms that would facilitate the work of such workers in our country and they also have to enjoy equal standing and protection of rights just like all others.
05:22.6
Let me say welcome, be welcome Mr. President. Mr. President shall visit.
05:28.1
And also the Prime Minister and Chamber of Deputies. And in the evening we shall meet again on the question of gala dinner and I believe we shall cover other topics of mutual interest. Thank you.
05:42.6
Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to convey first of all my warm appreciation to His Excellency President Peter Favell for the government and the government of the Philippines.
05:58.1
Thank you very much to the Czech Republic for this very kind invitation for me to come to this state visit that we are here for today.
06:07.1
President Favell and I had a very productive meeting this morning discussing a range of topics, foremost being the ways in which the Philippines and the Czech Republic can strengthen our bilateral relationship and cooperation and our multilateral partnerships.
06:25.0
Thank you very much.
06:28.1
We have been enjoying warm and friendly relations for the past five decades.
06:33.4
In fact, this visit of mine to the Czech Republic now invigorates our ongoing celebration of the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic ties which was established in October of 1975.
06:46.7
We are only just beginning to appreciate the huge potential of our cooperation in various areas of mutual interest to our two countries.
06:55.1
In my talks with the President, we...
06:58.1
We explored various opportunities for future partnerships in trade and investment, agriculture, green economy, and renewable energy, space and aerospace, education, tourism, defense and cyber security, and of course, labor, amongst others, which manifests the host of many opportunities that we have to strengthen our partnership with the Czech Republic.
07:28.1
We discussed the potential in increasing the bilateral trade between our two countries.
07:34.8
I also highlighted to the President the Philippines' remarkable economic performance, making it an attractive destination for Czech investment in the areas of ITBPM, in electronics, manufacturing, food and agriculture, and automotive EV manufacturing, amongst others.
07:52.8
I am optimistic that we will be able to attract more Czech traders.
07:58.1
I am also optimistic that we will be able to attract more Czech traders and investors to do business with the Philippines as a result of this increased engagement between our respective business sectors.
08:07.3
We look forward to the convening of the second meeting of the Philippines-Czech Republic Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation in Manila that will occur later this year.
08:17.8
I took note of the Czech Republic's announcement that you have increased the quota for Filipino workers from 5,500 to almost double.
08:28.1
From January 2024 to 10,300 per year starting in May of 2020-2024.
08:37.8
But just before this press conference, President Pavel and I witnessed the signing of the Joint Communicate to establish a labor consultations mechanism between the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers and the Czech Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
08:58.1
I shared with President Pavel the latest development on the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, and I understand that the Philippines' position in the South China Sea remains consistent and clear and firmly anchored in the 1992 UNCLOS.
09:18.3
While it is unfortunate that there are still persistent incidents of aggression and harassment in the South China Sea, we continue to engage all our neighbors.
09:28.1
And stakeholders through diplomacy and dialogue.
09:31.3
I thank President Pavel for the Czech Republic's support as a like-minded partner in upholding peace, stability, and the rules-based international order.
09:43.5
I am very pleased to also reiterate my sincere appreciation to the government and the people of the Czech Republic for the warm welcome that you have accorded to myself, the First Lady, and of course the rest of the Philippines.
09:58.1
Thank you very much.
09:59.1
Thank you very much.
10:00.1
Thank you very much.
10:01.1
This state visit reaffirms the Philippines' commitment in further cultivating the bonds and friendship which the Czech Republic and cementing the enduring ties between our countries and our people with a very special connection in terms of the time that our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, spent here in Rizal.
10:28.1
This state visit reaffirms the Philippines' commitment in further cultivating the bonds and friendship which the Czech Republic and cementing the enduring ties between our nation and our people with a very special connection in terms of the time that our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, spent here in Rizal.
10:29.1
This state visit reaffirms the Philippines' commitment in further cultivating the bonds and friendship which the Czech Republic and cementing the enduring ties between our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, spent here in Rizal.
10:40.1
This is something that provides us a foundation on which to build upon.
10:44.6
Thank you very much.
10:49.8
Now we have got a short time for questions because the President is already expected in the...
10:56.7
Good afternoon, Your Excellencies.
10:58.1
My question is for both President Marcos and President Pavel.
11:01.5
What kind of defense cooperation are we exploring to support the Philippines
11:05.9
in defending international law, particularly in the issue of the South China Sea?
11:16.0
Well, we discussed, well, first of all, we have based our discussions on the fact
11:24.8
that the Czech Republic and the Philippines share the same values
11:28.2
when it comes to the adherence to international law.
11:33.4
And that is something that, again, we find as a commonality between our two countries.
11:39.0
As we pointed out and continue to discuss,
11:45.2
the Armed Forces of the Philippines is undergoing a modernization program.
11:49.7
And under that modernization program, there will be a great deal of,
11:54.8
of procurement that needs to be done to modernize our forces and to modernize our capabilities.
12:01.3
And the Czech Republic has always been an important part of that development, of that evolution.
12:09.3
And we are hoping that that will continue, not only at its present level, but at a higher level.
12:19.4
Well, I'll merely add that the Czech Republic has had a long-lasting,
12:24.8
long-lasting tradition when it comes to defense industry.
12:28.3
We have a lot to offer in this era, both when it comes to aviation or craft and land equipment.
12:36.6
And it will be the topic of future discussions specifically provided.
12:42.3
But we also see possible cooperation in cyber security and in the use and development of high-tech or motor technologies.
12:52.1
I believe that both the countries have a lot to offer.
12:54.8
And there is lots of space or room for operation as to South China Sea.
13:01.1
We fully support the Philippines when it comes to their entitlement
13:08.0
to free movement of goods and also marine transport because that's a principle that not only we all respect,
13:19.0
but which also secures global and regional stability.
13:24.5
to us, South China Sea
13:27.0
may seem to be far
13:29.9
if you take into account
13:32.7
the percentage or share
13:34.9
of world or global trade
13:36.7
passes through this era, any
13:38.6
disruption of these
13:40.8
routes would have an adverse
13:42.7
impact on Europe, not only
13:46.9
shortage of goods, but also
13:48.4
soaring prices, which is why we have to
13:50.5
pay attention to this
13:54.5
Zuzana Smejkova, Czech Television.
13:59.1
Mr. President, you have already actually
14:01.1
answered the question
14:05.2
South China Sea. Therefore, the question
14:07.3
is addressed to Mr. Marcos.
14:09.4
You mentioned that you
14:12.9
approach the United States of America
14:15.3
when it comes to the solution
14:17.0
of this situation. At the beginning
14:19.1
of next year, you should meet Anthony
14:21.0
Blinken, the Foreign Secretary
14:23.1
next week. So, what
14:24.5
What do you expect from that?
14:31.9
in that all of these discussions
14:35.1
as far as the Philippines is concerned,
14:38.6
is concerned with
14:40.2
the maintenance of peace in the
14:42.2
South China Sea. It is
14:43.3
an issue that is not
14:45.3
only important for those
14:48.3
around the region, the Indo-Pacific region,
14:54.5
for the member states of ASEAN that surround
14:56.6
the South China Sea. But also,
15:01.9
safe navigation and passage
15:06.8
of the South China Sea is important
15:08.5
to international trade.
15:12.8
international trade goes
15:20.6
these discussions. And
15:24.5
not to winning any kind of conflict but really just to maintain the peace
15:32.0
and to continue to defend the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of the Philippines
15:38.3
when it comes to these international differences that we are having to deal with right now.
15:46.6
Thank you very much.
