France and the Philippines call for action against terrorism and climate change.

French President Francois Hollande arrived in the Philippines on February 26th, marking the first visit by a French head of state to the Southeast Asian nation.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino (right) hosts French President Francois Hollande on February 26. Source: AFP

According to Kyodo, Philippine President Benigno Aquino and his French counterpart Francois Hollande agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and urged the international community to work together toward this goal.

Speaking at a press conference after talks with the host country's president on the afternoon of February 26 at the Philippine Presidential Palace in Manila, the French leader said: “We have decided to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, because terrorists can strike anywhere. We can exchange information, track certain individuals and take action to eliminate the root causes of terrorism.”

For his part, Aquino emphasized: "We also agree to continue calling on the international community to work together to combat terrorism in all its forms, considering it a common threat to humanity."

The two-day state visit to the Philippines is also part of the French President's campaign to build diplomatic momentum ahead of the United Nations climate change summit, scheduled to take place in Paris later this year.

During talks with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, the two leaders called on the international community to take urgent action to combat climate change, with the goal of signing a global agreement on climate change at the 21st United Nations Climate Conference (COP-21), to be held in Paris, France, this December.

This new agreement, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2020, aims to advance the United Nations' goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

According to Hollande, countries, regardless of wealth or poverty, have a responsibility to act together to address climate change, which is why he went to the Philippines to make a call and to establish an alliance.

The French leader suggested that the close relationship between France and the Philippines could serve as a model for cooperation between a developed country and a developing country, which have long disagreed on responsibilities and contributions to the fight against climate change.

He also announced a €50 million ($56 million) aid package from France to the Philippines to prevent future climate-related disasters.

The Philippines experiences around 20 major typhoons annually, and scientists believe these storms are becoming increasingly powerful and unpredictable due to climate change. In November 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan, with its record-breaking wind speeds, devastated central Philippines, claiming the lives of over 7,350 people.

According to Vietnam+