President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and French President Emmanuel Macron have talked to each other by phone. Both leaders agreed to deepen their countries' relations in terms of low-carbon energy, food security, defense and human exchanges, the French Embassy in Manila said Saturday, Sep. 17.
The telephone conversation between the two presidents happened on Friday, Sep. 16, as the Philippines and France recently marked 75th year of diplomatic relations.
This developed as the French government, through French Ambassador to Manila Michele Boccoz, already expressed its commitment to preserve the rule of law, the freedom of navigation and overflight and other multilateral orders before the Philippines and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region by helping them maintain their sovereignty.
It was the same commitment made by Macron, who also called for respect for international maritime law.
During the call, the French president also presented the International Blue Carbon Coalition launched at the One Ocean Summit in Brest in February 2022, in order to protect coastal ecosystems in their role of carbon storage and absorption.
According to the French embassy, Macron likewise encouraged the Philippines to join the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, which aims to protect 30 percent of marine and terrestrial territories by 2030. "The Head of State referred to the actions undertaken within the framework of the FARM initiative to fight against food insecurity, aggravated by Russia's aggression against Ukraine," the French embassy said, referring to Macron.
"President Marcos praised the efforts of the President of the Republic in favor of peace," it added.
Macron also congratulated Marcos in winning the elections.