Palace announces official visit of French President to the country

French President François Hollande (Frederic Legrand – COMEO / Shutterstock)

MANILA — French President François Hollande will have a two-day official visit to the country, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., announced on Sunday.

In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Coloma said President Hollande will be accompanied by more than 100 French delegates when he visits the country on Feb. 26-27.

“Ito ang kauna-unahang pagbisita ng isang nakaupong Pangulo ng Pransya sa ating bansa simula nang magkaroon ng ugnayang diplomatiko ang ating mga bansa,” said Coloma.

(This is the very first state visit of the incumbent French president in the Philippines since the two countries started having diplomatic relations.)

President Hollande’s visit is in response to President Benigno Aquino III’s invitation when the latter visited France last September.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, economy and trade will be in the agenda during bilateral talks.

France is the country’s second biggest trading partner in the European Union.

Among other topics to be discussed are combating terrorism and climate change.

“Inaasahan ding kukuha ng suporta si Pangulong Hollande sa usapin ng climate change bilang paghahanda sa gaganaping ika-21 pagpupulong ng Conference of Parties or COP 21 sa Paris sa darating na Disyembre 2015 na lalahukan ng humigit-kumulang na 40,000 katao mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo,” Coloma added.

(We are also expecting to speak with President Hollande about climate change in preparation for the upcoming 21st Conference of Parties or COP 21 in Paris on December 2015 where around 40,000 people will participate from around the world.)