MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — French President Francois Hollande arrived in the country around 11:20 a.m. Thursday for a two-day state visit where he is expected to pursue initiatives to combat climate change.
The trip to the Philippines was the first by a French head of state.
President Hollande arrived with other advocates in the fight against climate, including actresses Marion Cotillard and Melanie Laurent. His presidential plane, an Airbus 330, landed at Villamor Air Base around 11:20 a.m.
On Friday, February 27, he will visit Guiuan, Eastern Samar in central Philippines, one of the areas worst hit by Supertyphoon Yolanda in 2013.
Hollande is trying to drum up support ahead of a United Nations climate change conference which will be hosted by France in December.
He will meet with President Aquino on Thursday. The two leaders are expected to call on world leaders to ensure the success of the Paris climate summit.
The Paris pact aims to to limit warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial Revolution levels. This supposedly must be in force by year 2020.
UN climate chief Christiana Figueres will also join Hollande’s delegation.
Hollande visited the Rizal Monument for a wreath-laying ceremony after his arrival. The ceremonies at the Rizal monument started shortly after 12 noon. Hollande was met and accompanied by Manila Mayor and former Philippine President Joseph Estrada at the Rizal Park.
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 century.
He is scheduled to attend a business forum entitled Philippines-France: Climate Change and Inclusive Growth, in Makati. He will also pass by the National Museum for an informal meeting.
In Malacanang, a welcome ceremony for Hollande is laid out where he will meet President Aquino.
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 partner in the European Union.
The United Nations identified the Philippines as the third most vulnerable nation at risk from climate change.
The Philippines is now seen as a country in the frontlines of the fight against climate change after it had been battered by Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) in 2013. (Eagle News Service)
