Manila, Oct. 15 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday received Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman in Malacanan Palace, marking the first official visit to the Philippines by a top diplomat of the Republic of Croatia.

Marcos hailed the moment as a milestone in Philippine-Croatian ties, noting that it opens a new phase of bilateral engagement.

"Welcome to the Philippines, especially at this very important time. We celebrate our long relationship between our two countries, and now you have the opening of your office here in the Philippines," the President told the visiting minister.

Radman thanked the President and the Filipino people for the warm reception extended to his delegation, citing sh...