Philippines, France sign agreements on tourism, infrastructure

President Benigno Aquino III and French President Francois Hollande. Photo from Official Gazette PH Twitter account

MANILA, Philippines – The governments of the Philippines and France on Thursday signed several agreements pertaining to tourism and trade.

President Benigno Aquino III and French President Francois Hollande witnessed the signing of the documents by their respective Cabinet members.

Among the agreements signed were:

• Agreement on Tourism Cooperation
• Declaration of Intention on Philippine-France Cooperation in the Area of Higher Education and Research
• Declaration of Intention of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the French Republic on the Protection of the Environment and the Sustainable Development of Marine Resources of the Philippines
• Credit Facility Agreement
• Business and Operating Agreement of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway
• Letter of Award for the Manila Light Rail Transit Extension Project

Hollande is the first French president to visit the Philippines since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1947.

He is in the country primarily to promote the campaign against climate change.

France will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December this year.

French President Francois Hollande with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III at the welcome ceremony at Malacanang on Feb. 26, 2015. Photo by Kristine Angeli Sabillo/INQUIRER.net