Noy tours Seine River, Louvre

PARIS – Basking in French hospitality, President Aquino was expected to get a tour of the Seine River and Louvre Museum, one of the world’s most important museums and a historic monument here.

Philippine Ambassador to France and Monaco Theresa Lazaro said Aquino was also invited by the Philippine-French Business Council to discuss investment opportunities back home.

“To cap his day one, they will have a cruise on board a beautiful yacht that will bring them down the Seine River,” Lazaro said.

The Seine being centrally and strategically located, Aquino will have a view of all the famous landmarks here, Lazaro said.

The private tour of the Louvre Museum will give Aquino the opportunity to see the popular and important works of art like the Mona Lisa, she added.

Aquino has a very hectic two-day schedule and Lazaro said Filipinos must be happy that the Philippines was back in the radar screen of France.

Lazaro said the country must take advantage of the momentum as French President Francois Hollande had begun looking at Southeast Asia as development partner.

In his statement after the bilateral meeting with Hollande, Aquino said his first visit to France had become all the more memorable due to the warmth and hospitality of the French government and its people.

“France is a country held by my people in high regard. This is not only because of the many advancements your people take pride in – but also, and more importantly, because France, almost 30 years ago, was among the first in the community of nations to recognize the revolutionary government of my mother, Corazon C. Aquino,” the President said, referring to the assumption of his mother to the presidency in 1986.  

“France, at a critical juncture in my nation’s history, stood by us, as we worked to rebuild our democratic institutions. Then as now, France has been a close friend and a reliable partner of the Filipino people.