THE Philippines and France on Friday signed two agreements that are expected to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries.

The two deals, one on energy production and the other on a Philippine exhibition in Paris set for next year, were signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Nicole Bricq, and Helena Conway.

Among those who witnessed the signing were President Benigno Aquino 3rd and French Prime Minister Jean Marc Ayrault, who arrived at Malacañang at 5:30 p.m. and was accorded arrival honors.

In his speech, Ayrault personally invited President Aquino to open the Philippine exhibit at the prestigious Musée du Quai Branly in Paris.

“This would be a wonderful opportunity to showcase the goodwill between our two countries,” Ayrault said.

The French premier also paid tribute to Mr. Aquino and the Filipino people.

“I would also like to pay tribute to your people, Mr. President, and I would like to pay tribute to the strength of the people and to your own personal struggle for liberty, for freedom, for democracy.

You have always fought also for the development of your country and for justice, and your country is grateful to you,” he said.

In response, President Aquino said that the Philippine government thanks France for its contributions and support.

“I thank the Prime Minister for the continued contribution of France for achieving our development priorities, to the official development assistance mechanism, particularly in the areas of climate change, sustainable urban development and capacity building projects for local government units,” the President said.

Earlier, Palace deputy spokesman Abigail Valte explained the content of the agreements.

“[The first agreement is on the] Declaration of Intent between the government of the Philippines and the government of the French Republic relating to a study for energy production from biomass.

Magbibigay po ng grant ang French government amounting to $482,204 to fund the feasibility study on rice as fuel to generate electricity using Organic Rankine Cycle or ORC technology,” Valte said.

This project could be installed in the country’s rural areas in the country and exported to rice-producing countries in Southeast Asia.

Valte said that the second agreement is the Philippines-France Memorandum of Agreement on the Philippine exhibition at the Musee Du Quai Branly, the premier museum in France, that is scheduled from April 9 to July 21, 2013.

The exhibition is expected to showcase over 300 pre-colonial Philippine artifacts. It is also expected to put the Philippines in the French cultural map and attract thousands of visitors. Side events will include workshops on Philippine cuisine, dances, and musical instruments.

Valte said that this agreement aims to ensure the safety of the country’s national treasures and other artifacts while in transit and on exhibition.

“It confirms the conditions of the loan security conservation and return to the Philippines and immunity from seizure of the objects and artworks loaned for the exhibition and it will ensure mutual assistance in administrative matters of the following participating institutions: The National Museum of the Philippines and the Museum of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,” she added.