National development cannot operate in a vacuum. The importance of stronger global cooperation to assist in domestic growth has become even more pertinent in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the aggravation of some of the most intractable challenges that the world is facing. Against this backdrop, it is imperative that we strengthen our ties with other countries to identify areas in which we could work together toward the fulfillment of our respective national goals.

Thus, I am grateful that we have recently concluded a successful three-day parliamentary visit in France from 24 to 26 of October. I was part of the official Philippine Senate delegation that was invited to visit the said European country for inter-parliamentary exchanges on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Philippine-French diplomatic relations.

The Philippine delegation was led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor Ejercito, together with fellow senators Manuel Lapid, Maria Lourdes Binay and Grace Poe.

During the visit, we met with the French Senate led by their Senate President Gérard Larcher, as well as with Guillaume Kasbarian, a member of the French National Assembly and chair of its Economic Affairs Committee, members of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Nuclear Safety Authority of France, and representatives of the French private sector, particularly those from the energy and transportation industries. We were also hosted by the France-South East Asian Friendship Group led by Senator Mathieu Darnaud.

I am optimistic that the visit would pave the way for a more profound relationship between the Philippines and France, especially as it opened up new opportunities for collaboration between the two nations in areas such as sustainable energy, climate change, economic growth, and food security.

Following our parliamentary visit in France, I then proceeded to Madrid, Spain. On 28 October, I was tasked to represent the Philippine Senate in the unveiling of the ceremonial plaque commemorating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Spain at the Jose Rizal Monument, Avenida de las Islas Filipinas. This was upon the invitation of the Philippine Embassy in Spain led by our Ambassador Philippe Lhuillier, and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.