PARIS, FRANCE - Coming from Belgium and after landing in Paris, President Benigno Aquino III got what he wanted after an audience with French President Francoise Hollande at the Elysee Palace.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of several economic and cultural agreements between two nations.
These include an agreement on the air services signed between Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and his counterpart Minister Laurent Fabius of the Foreign Affairs and International Development.
Aquino said the Philippines wants to further explore new areas of economic cooperation -- most notably in the fields of aerospace, infrastructure development, agriculture, information and communications technology, tourism, and services with France.
The new air services agreement with France will open more doors of opportunity for the two nations. It aims to strengthen tourism, trade, business activity, and people-to-people ties.
Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding between the Development Academy of the Philippines and the Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA) is expected to enhance cultural cooperation and embark on more exchanges in education.
Aquino said the agreement signed between two agencies looks into the establishment of training and exchanges that will benefit Filipino civil servants.
Another commitment signed before two leaders is an administrative arrangement between the Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Republic of the Philippines and the Minister of Culture and Communication of the French Republic on the 2014-2017 Executive Program of the Agreement of Cultural Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the French Republic.
Also expected to boost business in the Philippines with improvement in telecommunications is a contract concerning the purchase of equipment between 4G Alacatel Lucent and Globe Telecom-Group Ayala.
Fernando Zobel de Ayala, a member of the Board of Directors of Globe Telecom, attended the occasion and signed the contract with Michel Combes, President and CEO of Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell Co.
Aquino proudly stood during his joint press statement with Hollande, as the French President narrated his memory of the late President Corazon Aquino whom he said once stood on the same spot where the current President stood, when the older Aquino visited France after the People Power Revolution.
"France is a country held by my people in high regard. This is not only because of the many advancements your people take pride in--but also, and more importantly, because France, almost 30 years ago, was among the first in the community of nations to recognize the revolutionary government of my mother, Corazon C. Aquino. France, at a critical juncture in my nation's history, stood by us, as we worked to rebuild our democratic institutions" said Aquino.
He said France has been a close friend and a reliable partner of the Filipino people, with shared values on democracy, social justice, protection of human rights, and the respect for the rule of law.
The two leaders shared to the audience the topics that they discussed to enhance the relationship between two nations.
These include a Defense Cooperation Agreement with France.
Aquino said he and Hollande made significant strides towards updating the Philippines' bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement with France.
"The Philippines is in the process of modernizing our armed forces and improving our defense capability, and we believe that France will be a reliable partner in this regard," said Aquino.
Hollande expressed delight at the report given by Aquino on the latest positive news on the Aquino administration's efforts to forge genuine peace and development in Mindanao.
Hollande also emphasized the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration of Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
"I discussed with President Hollande matters related to stability and security in Southeast Asia. I raised the Philippines' concerns over the increasing tension in the South China Sea, a sea known in our region by many names. As President, I believe that with these concerns come the necessity for all countries in the region to commit to the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
This is the path my nation has chosen to take" said Aquino.
France is the third stop of President Aquino's four-nation visit in Europe.
Hollande said he will discuss with President Aquino the details of his visit to the Philippines next year.
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