French President Emmanuel Macron has invited President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to come to France, his embassy in Manila said Tuesday.
Macron's invitation was expressed in a letter that also bore his message for the Philippines on its 125th year of independence.
In the letter, Macron "highlighted the fruitful relations and the rich cooperation between France and the Philippines," the French Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement.
"President Macron restated, on that occasion, expressed his wish to host President Marcos in France for a State visit," it added.
In October, French Ambassador to the Philippines Michele Boccoz first bared Marcos was poised to visit Paris.
In a later interview in January 2023, Boccoz said the visit might "take place in the first half of the year." That would be "very important," according to Boccoz, since it is the first of its kind since 1989 for a Philippine leader.
Former President Cory Aquino was the last Filipino chief executive to go on a state visit to France. Other presidents who went there were just on an official visit.
Energy, maritime and food security, as well as biodiversity and climate change are among areas of cooperation expected to be discussed by the two leaders, Boccoz said.