French Ambassador to Manila Marie Fontanel is confident that the Philippines and France will build stronger relations in the future, as the two countries looked back at the high-level exchanges and agreements that defined the past year of their relations.

Fontanel and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Ma. Hellen De La Vega underscored the two nations’ common values and aspirations during the Bastille Day celebration of the French Embassy in Makati City on Monday night, July 14.

“Allow me to reiterate France's deep commitment to the Philippines. Our two countries have so much in common, and much more to do together. Our countries are like two ‘blue sister nations.’ So, long live our friendship and our cooperation,” Fontanel said in her speech.

The ambassador noted how the past year has reflected these commitments.

“A national day is also a time to reflect on our achievements. When I look back, for this second year of my mandate, I feel proud and impressed by the work we have done to strengthen our bilateral relationship,” she added.

The ambassador highlighted three milestones that the Philippines and France can look back on in the past year—the opening of a direct Air France line between Paris and Manila, the high-level visit of France’s Minister for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad Laurent Saint-Martin, and the port visit of French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in Subic Bay and Manila.

“Our countries have never been so close to each other. This makes tourism, student exchanges, business missions much easier. It's a giant step forward for our relationship and, more broadly, for the relationship between the Philippines and Europe,” she said of the reopening of the direct flight between Manila and Paris that have already flown 15,000 passengers since its commencement.

“This strengthening of the relationship between France and the Philippines is more necessary than ever, at a time of increasing international instability and crisis from Ukraine to the Middle East,” Fontanel added.

The envoy also stressed that the two countries share the same values even at the international level, as they are both “resolutely committed to multilateralism, respect for international law, notably the UN (United Nations) Charter and the defense of the rule of law everywhere in the world, without double standards.”

De La Vega, for her part, underscored the “busy year” in the Philippines-France ties, stating that the two countries’ relationship “is at its most profound in a physical and tangible space that we both share at sea.”

“We are both stewards of wide expanses of the world's oceans, especially so in the Indo-Pacific,” she said, as she congratulated France for its hosting of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in Nice last month, which promotes marine biodiversity and ocean conservation.

France is also “a particularly special partner” in ensuring the freedom of navigation in the region, the DFA official added. The BRP Gabriela Silang, one of the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) most advanced vessels operating in the West Philippine Sea, was made by a French shipmaker.

“This demonstrates the unique and complete support that France lends to our efforts to advance a rules-based international order in the West Philippines and Indo-Pacific,” she pointed out, adding the France has consistently supported the 2016 arbitral tribunal victory awarded to the Philippines.

Starting last month, the Philippines and France have also undertaken negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, “which demonstrates to the world our shared resolve to work together in advancing security and stability in our region,” the DFA official said.

“As we celebrate Bastille Day, we not only honor France and its people, but also celebrate the vibrant and evolving friendship between our two nations, one built on mutual respect and shared aspirations,” De La Vega furthered.