French President Francois Hollande arrived at a military airbase in Manila on Thursday (February 26) for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and gathering support in addressing climate change.
Over one hundred delegates accompanied Hollande on the state visit, including businessmen, heads of organisations, environmental advocates and celebrities like Jeremy Irons, Marion Cotillard and Melanie Laurentwho are known for their stand on climate change.
Upon arrival, Hollande laid a wreath of flowers in front of the monument of Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero who was said to have been inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution when he wrote his nationalist books, which later became the catalyst for a revolt that ended the 400-year Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines in the 18th centry.
While in Manila, Hollande is expected to meet business leaders, attend a climate change forum and meet with President Benigno Aquino at theMalacanan Palace.
Aquino and Hollande are expected to discuss trade, security and a unified stand on combatting terrorism.
Bilateral trade between the Philippines and France amounted to $2.39 billion in 2014, making France the Philippines‘ second largest trading parter in the European Union.
Hollande’s visit to the Philippines is designed to build momentum and spur the countries to strike a binding agreement to curb carbon emissions at an upcoming climate conference to be hosted by France in December.
The United Nations identified the Philippines as the third most vulnerable nation at risk from climate change.
On Friday (February 27), Hollande is expected to visit a coastal town in the central Philippines which was hit by a powerful typhoon in 2013 that killed more than 6,000 people.
Reuters wires
