President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. commended the French government’s commendable initiative to establish a direct flight route between Manila and Paris and their commitment to enhancing scholarship programs for Filipino students. President Marcos expressed gratitude to the outgoing French Ambassador to the Philippines, HE Michèle Boccoz, for informing him about these plans and for her efforts in strengthening the bilateral relationship.
During their farewell meeting at the Malacañan Palace, President Marcos conveyed his optimism about the potential growth in the relationship between the two countries within the next two years. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and expressed confidence in the progress that can be made. Ambassador Boccoz, whose diplomatic mission in the Philippines concludes this month, acknowledged the warm and hospitable nature of the Filipino people, which the French government greatly appreciated. She also highlighted the French government’s commitment to promoting student exchange and scholarship programs to encourage more Filipino students to pursue education in Paris, acknowledging the abundance of gifted and dynamic students in the Philippines.
Furthermore, Ambassador Boccoz informed President Marcos about the ongoing efforts to establish a direct flight route from Manila to Paris, highlighting the progress being made. President Marcos expressed his confidence in the incoming French ambassador’s ability to continue the positive momentum established by Ambassador Boccoz in the Philippines. During the farewell call, President Marcos extended an invitation to Ambassador Boccoz to revisit the Philippines, expressing his hope that she had fond memories of her time in the country.
The Philippines and France formally established diplomatic relations on June 26, 1947, through the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between then Vice President Elpidio Quirino and French Foreign Minister George Bidault. Last year, both countries commemorated the 75th anniversary of this significant milestone. In terms of trade and investment, France ranks as the Philippines’ 18th trading partner based on the 2021-2022 period, with the total trade volume increasing from $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion. France also holds the distinction of being the 5th largest agri-export partner and the 4th among EU member states in terms of agri-import sources for the Philippines. Additionally, France contributes significantly to the Philippines in the form of Official Development Assistance (ODA), particularly in the fields of telecommunications, energy, transportation, environment, health, and disaster management.
