Manila, Nov. 5 -- The Philippine government's transparency initiative in the West Philippine Sea is effectively raising international awareness among Europeans, particularly about the situation in the South China Sea, French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel said on Thursday.

Speaking at the Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea held in Taguig City, Fontanel said the heightened attention the region is receiving has helped the French government advance its efforts to strengthen security cooperation with the Philippines.

"It has achieved a lot already -we talk, not only here, but seen from a European perspective, the public opinion has really started knowing more about what's going on," she said.

"The public opinion is really...