Germany’s president to head to Indonesia, Philippines and Uzbekistan

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is departing on Sunday for a five-day trip to Asia, with stops planned in Indonesia, the Philippines and Uzbekistan, according to the presidential office.

Steinmeier will be accompanied by his wife Elke Büdenbender and a business delegation, his office said.

Indonesia is South-East Asia’s largest democracy, the world’s largest island nation and the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, with more than 280 million inhabitants.

Since 2024, the country has been governed by President Prabowo Subianto, a former general and former defence minister who won the election by a clear margin.

A key focus of Steinmeier’s visit to the capital Jakarta will be the peaceful coexistence of different religions.

In the Philippine capital Manila, the German president plans to visit a Lufthansa production facility and meet Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa.

The Philippines is one of South-East Asia’s most populous countries, with 117 million inhabitants.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr has been president since 2022. He is the son of former long-time ruler and dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

His government is pursuing a comparatively pragmatic course, focusing on investment, economic growth and closer cooperation with the US – particularly in light of tensions with China in the South China Sea.

The final stop on Steinmeier’s trip is the Uzbek capital Tashkent, where the president plans to visit a branch of German construction company GP Günter Papenburg, among other engagements.

The visit is expected to focus on the topic of skilled labour migration. Many young people from Uzbekistan go to work as guest workers in Russia or Turkey.

Uzbekistan also has more German-language learners than any other country in Asia, the presidential office said.