By Monsi A. Serrano
Ensuring to sustain the momentum of cooperation between France and Philppines after the conversation in New York between French President Emmanuel Macron and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., French Ambassdor to the Philippines Michèle Boccoz, presented the top priorities of their government to the local and international media at her residence.
Ambassador Boccoz revealed that a task force is already created to facilitate talks on the expanded cooperation in the areas of security, energy, technology, cultural exchanges, to name a few.
“This encounter was very much about our vision of the Indo-Pacific strategy. This is an area where we are part of the parcel, we are part of the Indo-Pacific, we are neighbor countries to the Philippines and our priorities in the Indo-Pacific completely fit with the priorities of the government.
“One of the topics they (Presidents Macron and Marcos) discussed is linked to a rules-based multipolar order and particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas. France is seen, as you know, its military deployments increase in the region. Our commitment also to cooperation and deepening the cooperation with the Philippines in the areas of the defense security, maritime drills, port calls, the modernization of maritime capabilities,” Boccoz added.
She also underscored that another priority is protecting the sovereignty and natural resources. Apart from this, the enhancement of Phillippine defense capabilty through the modernization of the Navy and the submarine acquisition offer of the French government.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Ambassador Boccoz noted that other priorities that were discussed is about the international situation particularly the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia. She also pointed out that the world is just recovering from the pandemic over the last few years after it disrupted the world, travel, economies, and lives of everyone we know. The Russian aggression has been disrupting food supply, fuel supply, and information, and dubbed as the first high-risk conflict that is taking place in the Europe.
Boccoz also said that the current war between Russia and Ukraine is a hybrid war because it takes place not only on the ground, but also in the information, disinformation, while food and fuel energy being weaponized by Russsia. But the lady envoy sees opportunity for both Philippines and France amidst the crises especially in the area of energy security and for the Philippines to develop decarbonized energy sources and to go toward the green energy.
She cited how France successfully embarks on wind energy, solar energy, geothermy, hydroelectricity, hydrogen power plant, among others. Boccoz also mentioned that there is alrady one that’s been developed in Zamboanga City. But the French envoy wants to introduce new technology which is the smart nuclear reactors that will fit well in the geographical structure of the Philippines.
Addressing long term soluiion in Phl food security
As the world deals with the post pandmic recovery, the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine resulted in food security crisis due to supply chain, volatile fuel price and other factors.
“The prices for food are going up so it’s a burden also on the state and this is one area where we’re also going to work on in an area of agriculture, of the green development, sustainable and inclusive agriculture that would be one of our key priorities between the two governments,” Boccoz said.
“As you know, on an international basis, President Macron has been very much involved in developing an international initiative called the Farm Initiative which is meant to be based on the Covax model that it would help provide access to affordable quality food for vulnerable population as Covax has been focusing on vaccines. So this is also an area and finally, of course everything related to climate and biodiversity with a particular focus on the oceans,” she added.
“France organized the One Ocean Summit in February last year in the framework of our French presidency of the European Union and we are also proposing to host the next UN conference on the Oceans with the Costa Rica in 2025. So this is going to be another area of focus and support. This is an area where there is a lot to do and a lot we can do better together. Also inspecting biodiversity, protecting climate change and also working particularly together to build consensus on the importance of safeguarding fragile marine ecosystems to move forward and take concrete steps and the big thing in the climate change issues as we see with typhoons coming and that means also coastal erosion. That means also destructions of goods and of course life and this is really a very, very important issue,” Boccoz underscore.
to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific area and upholding international law; pursuing joint action to fight climate change; and promoting cultural exchanges between their people.
ADB Representative Anne Marchal and Agence Française de Développement Director Bénédicte Gazon