French Senators Call on Undersecretary Manalo
From left: Special Assistant to the Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Rommel Romato, Senator Jérôme Durain, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Ma. Amelita Aquino, Senator Simon Sutour, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo, Senator Jacky Deromedi, Ambassador of France Nicolas Galey, Senator Philippe Mouiller, Political Counsellor of the French Embassy Quentin Biehler. (DFA photo)
MANILA 04 March 2019 — A delegation from the France-Southeast Asia Friendship Group of the French Senate paid a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo at the Department of Foreign Affairs on 01 March 2019.
Undersecretary Manalo welcomed the French delegation to the Philippines, who were undertaking a three-day visit in exchange for the official visit of Philippine senators led by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to Paris in 2017. This exchange of Philippine and French parliamentarians marks the third visit between the two countries.
The French delegation was led by Senator Jacky Deromedi, President of the France-Southeast Asia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group. Joining her were Senator Simon Sutour, President of the Friendship Group in charge of the Philippines, Senator Jérome Durain, and Senator Philippe Mouiller.
Undersecretary Manalo and the French senators acknowledged that the Philippines and France relations have a long history of good relations, which continue to be strengthened especially in the fields of trade, investment, tourism, climate change and security cooperation. Undersecretary Manalo also thanked the French Government for its support for the Mindanao Peace Process.
Both sides also exchanged views on regional issues such as on the West Philippine Sea, maritime security and cooperation, France’s engagement with ASEAN, and Philippine-European Union relations.
The Philippines and France celebrate 72 years of diplomatic relations in 2019. END
Undersecretary Manalo received a courtesy call from the President of the France-Southeast Asia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, Senator Jacky Deromedi, and her fellow French Senators Simon Sutour, Philippe Mouiller, and Jérôme Durain. Undersecretary Manalo and the French Senate delegation exchanged views on developments in Philippine-French bilateral relations including progress made on the Paris Agreement, trade and security cooperation, among others.
