Study room, Malacañan Palace
March 12, 2025

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. warmly welcomed Her Excellency Tanja Fajon, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, in a courtesy call at the Study Room in Malacañan Palace.

During their meeting, President Marcos Jr. and Vice Prime Minister Fajon discussed priority areas aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation between the two countries, particularly with the opening of the Slovenian Embassy in the Philippines.

Other discussion points included bilateral trade and investment, nuclear cooperation, labor cooperation, sports, the Philippines’ hosting of the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, the Philippines’ bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and the ongoing territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea.

Prior to her meeting with the President, the Slovenian Vice Prime Minister expressed her strong support for the 2016 Arbitral Award which rejected Beijing’s maritime claims in the South China Sea. She also conveyed Slovenia’s commitment to the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as to international tribunals, including the International Criminal Court (ICC), and its membership in the Rome Statute — the treaty that established the ICC.

The Vice Prime Minister is in the country for a three (3)-day visit, during which she oversaw the formal opening of the Embassy of Slovenia to the Philippines. This also marks the first visit of a Slovenian foreign minister since the establishment of diplomatic relations in May 1993.

Slovenia is home to 462 Filipinos, primarily office-based workers, professionals, service workers and technicians.

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