Bong Go: Three-day parliamentary visit to France led by SP Zubiri ‘successful’

Philippine senators, led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, concluded a successful three-day parliamentary visit to France where they met with their French counterparts and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties between the Philippines and the European country.

The official Philippine Senate delegation also included Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor Ejercito, and Senators Manuel Lapid, Maria Lourdes Binay, Grace Poe and Christopher Lawrence Go.

The delegation was invited to visit France on 24-26 October 2022 as part of inter-parliamentary exchanges and on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Philippine-French diplomatic relations.

They visited the French Senate led by Senate President Gérard Larcher and received a warm welcome from their French counterparts.

"We hope that the excellent rapport between our two Senates will intensify and be at the heart of the flourishing relations between our two countries. The Philippines is for France a privileged partner in the Indo-Pacific, with which we have the vocation to develop new cooperation projects," said the official greeting read at the French Senate plenary session.

During the visit, the Philippine contingent also met with Guillaume Kasbarian, a member of the French National Assembly and chair of its Economic Affairs Committee, French Senator Daniel Gremillet, and members of the Atomic Energy Commission.

Discussing potential investment opportunities for both countries, the senators also met with representatives of the French private sector, particularly those from the energy and transportation industries.

Zubiri had expressed strong interest in studying the defense and energy systems and infrastructure that France possesses. The senator has been been the driving force behind the passage of the Biofuels Act in 2006 and the Renewable Energy Law in 2008.

The Philippines, a country almost entirely dependent on imported fossil fuel, has recently seen higher inflation rates partly driven by higher production and transportation costs due to a series of oil price hikes.

Meanwhile, Legarda was able to discuss with their French counterparts environmental and blue economy-related issues. The senator emphasized the importance and timeliness of discussing issues related to climate change, which remains a leading global concern.

"Our visit to France is a chance for the Philippines to convey our vision, plans, and involvement in addressing global challenges such as climate change," said Legarda in a statement. "Our country fully recognizes France's steady allegiance to be a global leader in addressing the issue, and we are fully committed to supporting the Paris Agreement."

The Philippine delegation also met with the Nuclear Safety Authority of France, an independent administrative authority that participates in regulating nuclear safety, radiation protection, and nuclear activities in France.

The senators attended luncheons hosted by Senator Mathieu Darnaud from the France-South East Asian Friendship Group throughout the three-day visit in Paris.

For his part, Go expressed optimism that the visit would pave the way for a more profound relationship between the Philippines and France. He said the trip had opened up new opportunities for collaboration between the two nations, particularly in the areas of sustainable energy, climate change, economic growth, and food security.

"It is my hope that our trip was successful in bringing the Philippines and France closer together, and that we were able to successfully identify potential areas in which the Philippines and France could work together, particularly in light of the challenges that our world is currently facing," said Go.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Senate leadership for organizing the successful parliamentary visit.

"It was a pleasure to meet our French counterparts, and I appreciate Senate President Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Legarda for arranging the visit and giving us this opportunity to improve ourselves through exchange with them," he said.

Go, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Health, said the visit also serves as an opportunity to personally thank members of the French government for its multimillion COVID-19 vaccine donation to the Philippines through the COVAX Facility at the height of the pandemic, pointing out that the assistance provided a significant boost to the country's national vaccination program.

In March 2019, a delegation from the France-South East Asia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the French Senate also visited the Philippines.