Federal President Steinmeier's visit to Indonesia, the Philippines and Uzbekistan

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender traveled to Indonesia, the Philippines and Uzbekistan from 14 to 18 June. The Federal President held political talks and visited places that represent faith, culture and history. The German Head of State was accompanied by a trade delegation.

In Jakarta, President Prabowo Subianto welcomed the Federal President with military honours. The two Presidents stressed the joint aim of further expanding cooperation in the fields of business, energy, the climate, recruitment of skilled workers, and culture. At the same time, they underlined their shared stance on democracy, the rules-based order and strong multilateral engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

During his visit to the Istiqlal Mosque, the Federal President were given a guided tour of the place of worship before walking through the Tunnel of Friendship to the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption opposite the mosque. This meeting showed the particular importance of religious tolerance in Indonesia.

The Federal President then took part in an expert discussion with representatives of local think tanks on middle powers and their role in a changing global order. After that the Federal President then flew to Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

On the second day of his trip, the Federal President met President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Manila for talks on political matters and opportunities for economic cooperation. At a joint press conference, the two Presidents reaffirmed the importance of the partnership between Germany and the Philippines. On the same day, the Federal President will laid a wreath at the Rizal Monument, erected in memory of the country's national hero, and visited the Museo ni Rizal (Rizal Museum). José Rizal spent formative years of his life in Germany, where his novel "Noli me tángere" was published in 1887.

Afterwards the Federal President visited Lufthansa Technik Philippines, one of the world's largest maintenance centres for wide-body aircraft, which trains predominantly Philippine skilled workers to German standards.

The Federal President also met with Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Ressa, who spoke about her work in support of press freedom and democracy. The Federal President will then travel on to Tashkent in Uzbekistan in the evening.

At a meeting between the Federal President and the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the two Presidents underscored their commitment to expanding economic partnership. Afterwards, the German trade delegation signed agreements on several projects by German companies in Uzbekistan in the presence of the two Presidents. As a sign of friendship between Germany and Uzbekistan, the Federal President and President Mirziyoyev also planted a tree in the garden of the Presidential Residence.

The second day in Tashkent started with a tour of the world's largest museum of Islamic culture, the Islamic Civilisation Centre. The Federal President then visited the company GP Günter Papenburg and took part in an event on skilled labour migration, where he met apprentices, representatives of German companies and trainers.