Press Statement of Secretary for Foreign Affairs
H.E. Enrique A. Manalo on the Bilateral Meeting with
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs
of the Republic of Slovenia
H.E. Tanja Fajon
MANILA 11 March 2025
Her Excellency Tanja Fajon
Delegates from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia,
Colleagues from the Department of Foreign Affairs,
Members of the Press;
Ladies and gentlemen.
Good afternoon.
I am pleased to welcome Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon to Manila. Her visit - the first ever of a Foreign Minister of Slovenia - is a milestone in our 31 years of diplomatic relations.
Foreign Minister Fajon will also formally open the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Manila, currently the only mission of Slovenia in the Southeast Asia region.
Our meeting today was built on the momentum from the success of the inaugural Philippines-Slovenia Political Consultations held on 05 February 2025 this year in Ljubljana. Today, we discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in key sectors, especially trade and investment, and to build on the results of the Political Consultations.
Foreign Minister Fajon is joined by a Slovenian business delegation, engaged in areas such as mobility, manufacturing, food and beverage, ICT, science and technology, and hospitality.
The business delegation will meet with their counterparts from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry or PCCI during the Slovenia-Philippines Business Forum tomorrow, with the aim of encouraging and promoting collaboration between our Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and between Philippine and Slovenian businesses.
In addition, we will continue our cooperative activities in other sectoral areas, such as space, S&T applications, nuclear energy, maritime education, training, sports, and labor.
Following our meeting, the Philippines and Slovenia will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Labor Cooperation during the Employment Forum organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). This MOU represents our shared advocacy for safe, orderly, and regular migration.
Foreign Minister Fajon and I also discussed regional and international developments, namely the developments in the Indo-Pacific, ASEAN and the West Philippine Sea; as well as Ukraine and the Middle East. Also discussed were the important issues of our times such as climate change and climate financing.
The issue of women, peace and security was also brought up. In fact, after our successful hosting of the International Conference on Women, Peace and Security in Pasay in October 2024, Slovenia will co-sponsor the Philippine side event entitled, “Turning Pledges into Progress: Operationalizing the Pasay Declaration on Women, Peace and Security” next week at the sidelines of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Minister Fajon and I tackled the issue of the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, emphasizing the importance of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. I thank the Foreign Minister for expressing solidarity with the Philippines when it comes to the security and the observance of international law in the South China Sea, with the Minister pointing out its commitment to international law and the UNCLOS. The Philippines is fully committed in defending its sovereignty and sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the South China Sea, but at the same time engaging China towards the escalation through dialogue and diplomacy.
The positive trajectory of Philippines-Slovenia bilateral relations is largely a result of our shared values and an alignment of views on regional and global issues. We welcome Slovenia’s support for the 2016 Arbitral Award, which underscores our mutual commitment to a rules-based international order that is governed by international law. I heartily look forward to further strengthening our partnership with Slovenia.
Again, our warmest welcome to Foreign Minister Fajon and her delegation.
Thank you.