Marcos lauds plan to create direct flights between Manila, Paris

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has welcomed the French government’s initiative to open direct flights from Manila to Paris.

Marcos thanked outgoing French Ambassador to the Philippines Michèle Boccoz who informed him of the plans to open a direct flight and strengthen scholarship programs. Boccoz made a farewell call on Marcos on Tuesday.

“It is something new for our two countries to have these relationships now. I’m sure that there’s something that will grow rapidly within the next two years. Those are the things that I think we can merge. I think we can make a good start,” Marcos told Boccoz.

Boccoz informed Marcos of the plans to open a direct flight from Manila going to Paris. She also said the French government is working on promoting the student exchange or scholarship programs

Boccoz said this move is meant to encourage more Filipino students to study in Paris as she believes that the Philippines has “many gifted and dynamic students.”

“It is also something that we’re really promoting, to have more students in all areas in Science, in Engineering and Technologies and all of the areas because there’s so many gifted—very, very gifted people,” Boccoz told Marcos.

“And the young generation is so dynamic in this country and I’m sure there’ll be many, many opportunities to increase the relationship in all those areas, and to go to the next step of our relation,” Boccoz added.

The Philippines and France formally established diplomatic relations on June 26, 1947 with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between the two countries by then-Vice President Elpidio Quirino and then French Foreign Minister George Bidault.

The two countries commemorated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations last year. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News