8 December 2011 - The Philippine Embassy in Berlin reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and German Foreign Minister Dr. Guido Westerwelle met in Berlin on December 7 to discuss ways to deepen economic, political and cultural cooperation.
This is first official visit to Germany by a Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary in ten years, after then Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople visited Germany.
Secretary del Rosario conveyed to Foreign Minister Westerwelle that the Philippines regards Germany as one of its strongest economic, political and cultural partner, and that despite the Fraport issue, investment and trade between the two have in fact increased.The Foreign Affairs Secretary highlighted the robust growth and expansion of German companies in Philippine economic zones.
Recent investments by German companies include the Deutsche Bank, Lufthansa Teknik, Contintental Temic, and STEAG.
Germany is the Philippines' 12th largest source of foreign direct investments, with latest data available showing that direct investments from German companies in 2009 amounted to US$535.8 million.
It also remains one of the largest investors in the country. In 2010, Germany was the Philippines' sixth largest export market, and the largest export market in Europe. Exports to Germany totaled US$2.66 billion or a 5.17 percent share of the total.
On the Fraport issue, Secretary del Rosario said that the Philippines has made serious efforts in arriving at a fair and just resolution to the Fraport case, using credible dispute settlement modes.
Both Secretary del Rosario and Minister Westerwelle agreed that the Fraport issue should not affect other aspects of the long and robust relations between the Philippines and Germany. Both officials expressed hope in finding a way forward to this longstanding minor irritant between the two governments.
The Foreign Affairs Secretary thanked Germany for its generous development support for poverty reduction and conflict transformation in Mindanao, which had been the focus of German development aid since 2009.
Minister Westerwelle and Secretary del Rosario also signed the Joint Declaration of Intent on cultural relations between the Philippines and Germany, which is aimed at closer cooperation in areas such as literary works, performing arts, film and television, museology, heritage and art conservation, among others.
The signing of the declaration caps this year's vibrant Philippine-German cooperation in cultural activities, which includes several projects related to the celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
Dr. Rizal had spent some time in Germany for his medical training, and he also published his first novel, Noli Me Tangere, in the country.
Secretary del Rosario took the opportunity to congratulate Minister Westerwelle on Germany's leadership and initiatives to address the Euro crisis, currently the biggest challenge facing the European Union.
The German Minister expressed confidence that the euro and Europe will survive the current crisis but that some discipline will have to be enforced.