HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese President Trần Đại Quang and his French counterpart, Francois Hollande, agreed on various measures to boost the countries’ relations during their talks in Hà Nội yesterday morning as part of the French President’s State visit to Việt Nam. 
At the talks, the leaders shared the view that bilateral ties have been thriving across the board, stating their resolve to bolster the countries’ strategic partnership with a long-term co-operation vision so as to meet their common interests and concerns.

They agreed to enhance all-level visits, especially at high levels, and bring into play co-ordination mechanisms in politics, economics, defence, science-technology, culture and education-training. 

They emphasised that economic partnership remained a priority in bilateral ties, and the countries needed to promote co-operation in key projects in infrastructure, energy, aviation, health care-pharmaceuticals, the environment, agriculture and food processing. 
President Hollande affirmed France’s commitment to continue providing ODA to Việt Nam. 

The countries will continue creating a favourable environment for their enterprises to co-operate, invest and do business. Việt Nam invited France to be the honorary guest at the 2017 Việt Nam International Food Industry Exhibition (Vietnam Foodexpo). 

The Presidents agreed to foster science-technology links, particularly in renewable energy and satellite application, while boosting cultural, tourism and educational ties. They will provide optimal conditions for Vietnamese students to study in France and help the Hanoi University of Science and Technology reach international standards. 

Việt Nam and France will reinforce defence co-operation, especially through military equipment procurement and mutual visits by naval ships. France will help Việt Nam with UN peace-keeping operations and work with Việt Nam to address traditional and non-traditional security issues. 

They also agreed to enhance co-ordination at multilateral forums like the UN, ASEAN-EU, Asia-Europe Meeting and the Francophone community. They will continue mutual support to promote France’s relations with Asia-Pacific countries and Việt Nam’s co-operation with the EU. 

Việt Nam highly values France’s role in the fight against climate change, particularly after the success of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) held in Paris last year. Both sides will tighten connections in coping with global challenges, including climate change. 

At the talks, the Presidents clarified the importance of maintaining peace and stability and promoting regional and international co-operation. They reiterated the commitment to ensuring free navigation and aviation, stressing the peaceful settlement of East Sea disputes through diplomatic and legal processes, and with respect to international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

Regarding The Hague tribunal’s ruling on July 12, 2016, both sides affirmed the law-abiding principle at seas and oceans. They underlined the importance of fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), while supporting efforts to reach a Code of Conduct (COC) in the waters. 

At the end of the talks, Presidents Quang and Hollande witnessed the signing and exchange of many documents and co-operation agreements between the two governments, their ministries, agencies and businesses. 

At noon the same day, the Vietnamese leader hosted a banquet in honour of the French President.

PM Phúc meets French President

Also yesterday, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc had a meeting with the French President, during which he stated that the Vietnamese Government would continue its efforts to foster partnerships with France in all fields.

Expressing his delight at the growth of the Việt Nam-France strategic partnership over the past years, the PM proposed that both sides focus on boosting co-operation in areas of France’s strengths, including infrastructure, advanced technology, energy, aerospace, health care and pharmaceuticals. 

Particularly, both sides should strengthen their cooperation in technology transfer and training in satellite manufacturing, an area that the two countries are pursuing together, he said. 

The two countries should also work more closely in sustainable development, such as technologies in environmental protection and green agriculture, he suggested, adding that Việt Nam encourages French enterprises to invest in green projects in Việt Nam. 

He also asked for France’s support during Việt Nam’s implementation of the Paris Climate Conference (COP 21) commitments. 

Việt Nam had risen from poverty to become a middle-income country, but it was still facing many challenges such as climate change, sea level rise, natural disasters, epidemics and environmental pollution, he said, calling on France to continue providing ODA to Việt Nam, especially in infrastructure, climate change and poverty reduction. 

The PM also suggested that the two sides further bolster their co-operation in trade and investment, towards the goal of doubling their two-way trade turnover from the modest US$4.2 billion in 2015. 

At the same time, both sides should also enhance co-operation in culture, education and people-to-people contacts, as well as strengthen ties among localities. 

PM Phúc shared France’s concern about terrorism and expressed sympathy to France over the great losses caused by terrorists. 

The Vietnamese Government leader asked that France support ASEAN’s stance in ensuring peace, stability, security and maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea. 

President Hollande affirmed that France is keen to beef up co-operation with Việt Nam in all fields, especially in politics, economics, trade, investment, and the response to climate change and rising sea levels. 

He said during this visit, he was being accompanied by many business leaders, who want to seek partnership and investment opportunities in Việt Nam, which demonstrated the interest of French businesses in developing ties with Việt Nam . 

Stressing that France always prioritised its economic partnership with Việt Nam , he requested that the country create favourable conditions for French investment. 

At the same time, France was also keen on enhancing bilateral co-operation in science-technology, technology transfer, education and training, agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

He also underscored that his country would continue assisting Việt Nam in the fields of the country’s demand, including coping with climate change and sea level rise and environmental protection. — VNS