Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng (right) receives President of the French National Assembly Claude Bartolone yesterday afternoon in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

HÀ NỘI (VNS) — The visit of President of the French National Assembly (NA) Claude Bartolone to Việt Nam marks an important milestone in Việt Nam-France relations, said Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng yesterday.
Trọng was receiving the French legislative leader in Hà Nội.
The General Secretary thanked the French government and people for assisting Việt Nam in socio-economic development, poverty reduction and global integration.
He proposed further support from the NA of France in developing the bilateral ties through high-level delegations and people-to-people exchange, enhancing trade-investment, education-training, science-technology and climate change mitigation at national and local levels.
The Party leader also expressed his delight at the French NA ratifying the Vietnam-EU Comprehensive Partnership and the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement.
NA President Claude Bartolone congratulated Trọng on his re-election as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam.
France regarded Việt Nam as a key partner in the region, he said, affirming the country’s policy to boost ties with Việt Nam.
France would continue implementing its commitments with Việt Nam in line with the two nations’ Strategic Partnership inked in September 2013, Bartolone noted.
He said he would work to foster ties between the two National Assemblies towards the further development of Việt Nam-France relations.
He also reiterated his support of Việt Nam’s views that disputes in the East Sea should be settled peacefully in accordance with principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The French National Assembly President is on an official visit to Việt Nam from March 18-21 as a guest of National Assembly Chairman Nguyễn Sinh Hùng. — VNS