Bono, the singer of Irish band U2 and co-founder of ONE organisation, and Brigitte Macron ? wife of the French President ? speak at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, July 24, 2017. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

 

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has told U2 frontman Bono that France will respect its commitment to boost development aid, Bono told reporters after meeting Macron in Paris.

The rock singer, who heads the ONE anti-poverty foundation, said Macron had confirmed France would boost its aid budget to 0.55 percent of gross domestic product by 2022.

Macron had made a campaign pledge to boost France's aid budget to 0.7 percent of GDP by 2030, from 0.38 percent in 2016, but development aid budget cuts this year have led to criticism from charity organisations, including from ONE France.