Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (left) and President of the French National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet in Paris on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

PARIS — Việt Nam pays heed to strengthening its multifaceted cooperation with France – its first and only comprehensive strategic partner in the European Union, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính told President of the French National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet during their meeting in Paris on Tuesday (local time).

He noted that his ongoing trip to France, taking place shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron’s Việt Nam visit in late May, demonstrated Việt Nam’s strong commitment to deepening the bilateral relationship in a deep, effective and practical manner.

Yaël Braun-Pivet welcomed Chính and his delegation, praising the PM's significant engagements, which she said helped translate the major directions of the comprehensive strategic partnership into concrete actions.

She said that the Chair of the France–Việt Nam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group had joined President Macron’s delegation to Việt Nam and that the French legislature considered the trip a resounding success. She also expressed satisfaction with the dynamic and close cooperation between the two countries’ friendship parliamentarians’ groups.

She expressed admiration for Việt Nam’s impressive all-round development and emphasised that parliamentary exchanges and cooperation remain one of the key pillars of the France–Việt Nam comprehensive strategic partnership.

She said that a growing number of French citizens are living, investing, working and succeeding in Việt Nam, highlighting the vital role of the community in deepening bilateral ties.

The two sides reviewed the positive outcomes of bilateral ties, including legislative cooperation, particularly through regular delegation exchanges and close interactions between the two parliaments. They agreed that this cooperation plays a crucial role in enhancing mutual understanding, reinforcing political trust, and promoting collaboration in other fields.

PM Chính underscored the essential role of the legislatures in exercising constitutional and legislative authority, deciding on key national issues and overseeing government operations.

He said that in Việt Nam’s 15th National Assembly, women account for 30.2 per cent of total deputies, while female representation in provincial and district-level People’s Councils stands at 29 per cent, placing Việt Nam among the countries with the highest levels of female political participation globally.

Both sides agreed to maintain regular high-level exchanges and enhance cooperation between parliamentary committees, friendship groups, women and young parliamentarians. This will help the two legislatures share experience, improve their effectiveness, and jointly monitor the implementation of bilateral agreements.

PM Chính called on the French side to soon ratify the EU–Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

On multilateral cooperation, the two leaders pledged to strengthen coordination and mutual support at regional and global parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF), and to promote the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the benefit of both nations and for global peace, stability, cooperation and development.

To further advance the Việt Nam–France comprehensive strategic partnership in a practical and effective manner, PM Chính called on the French National Assembly to support the realisation of specific aspects of bilateral relations, including projects in infrastructure development, new energy, education and training, cultural exchange, and museum conservation.

On this occasion, the PM extended an invitation from National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn to President Braun-Pivet to visit Việt Nam and she gladly accepted.— VNA/VNS