Philippine Senators, France-Southeast Asia Friendship Group Celebrate 70 Years of PH-France Relations

First Row:  Senator Loren Legarda, Senator Cynthia Villar, French Senator Jacky Demomedi and Ambassador Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro. Second Row: Senator JV Ejercito, Senator Joel Villanueva, French Senator Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam, French Senator Simon Sutour, Senate President Koko Pimentel, Senator Miguel Zubiri, French Senator Yves Pozzo Di Borgo, Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senator Sherwin Gathalian.

06 July 2017 PARIS — A delegation of Philippine Senators led by Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III met with members of the France -Southeast Asia Friendship Group during a luncheon hosted for them at the Palais de Luxembourg, the seat of the French Senate.

Senator Pimentel expressed optimism that the visit of the Philippine Senate delegation will ignite deeper understanding between the two countries and encourage more exchanges on the bilateral level.

French Senator Simon Sutour, representing the Friendship Group, expressed the French Senate's support on the ongoing efforts of the Philippine government to fight terrorism and climate change.

Senator Loren Legarda, the president of the counterpart of the Friendship Group in the Philippine Senate, likewise expressed hope that there will be an increase in bilateral exchanges and more engagements particularly in climate change issues.

Present during the luncheon were Senator Jacky Demomedi representing French citizens living aboard, and senators representing Paris -- Mr. Yves Pozzo Di Borgo and Madame Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam.

Other members of the Philippine delegation were Senators Panfilo Lacson, Miguel Zubiri, JV Ejercito, Cynthia Villar, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Joel Villanueva.

For more information, visit www.parispe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/officialphilembassyfrance. END

From left:  Ambassador Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Senator JV Ejercito, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senate President Koko Pimentel, Senator Loren Legarda, French Senator Jacky Deromedi, French Senator Simon Sutour, Senator Cynthia Villar, Senator Joel Villanueva, and Senator Miguel Zubiri