ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar – Việt Nam is ready to intensify economic co-operation with Francophone countries and share with them experience in socio-economic development, especially with African nations, President Trần Đại Quang  said.
He spoke at the opening session of the 16th Francophonie Summit in Madagascar’s capital city of Antananarivo on Saturday.
He said members of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) had worked closely with other international and regional organisations, especially the United Nations and the African Alliance, to step up the prevention and resolution of conflicts, crises, political unrest and terrorism in member nations, thereby actively contributing to maintaining peace, security and stability in the Francophone community and around the world.
They also achieved important outcomes in realising the Millennium Development Goals, especially in poverty eradication, educational and healthcare service quality improvement, environmental protection, gender equality promotion, and child care and protection.
President Quang said Việt Nam welcomed the Francophone community’s efforts to enhance language and culture diversification, the protection of each country’s cultural identities amid globalisation, and the increase of economic partnerships between OIF members and other countries. It was pleased with the OIF countries’ contributions to global efforts to reach important agreements, particularly the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development.
As an active and responsible member of the Francophone community, Việt Nam had implemented the community’s strategies and cooperation programmes, helping to solidify the solidarity, unity and cooperation among its members, he noted.
President Quang asked the Francophone community to continue serving as an objective voice on the East Sea issue and to urge relevant parties to abstain from using force or threatening to use force, to settle disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to respect diplomatic and legal processes, adhere to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and work to finalise a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
He stressed that no countries, whether big or small, rich or poor, could deal alone with traditional and non-traditional security challenges. OIF countries and the entire international community must unite and closely cooperate, he noted.
"Việt Nam is ready to be a bridge linking the OIF to ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region," the leader added.

Leaders’ meetings

President Quang also held meetings with officials of several OIF member nations.

Meeting with French President Francois Hollande, the two leaders agreed to work closely to promote the implementation of the Francophone community’s priorities.

President of Senegal Macky Sall and President Quang highlighted the great potential for the two countries to push links in trade, agriculture, and aquaculture. Macky Sall said his country wanted to learn from Việt Nam’s experience in rice cultivation and agricultural production, towards ensuring food security in Senegal.

Meeting with President of Cote d’Ivoire Alassane Ouattara, President Quang noted that Cote d’Ivoire was Việt Nam’s second largest trade partner in Africa.

The President of Cote d’Ivoire praised Vietnamese firms’ operating in his country, saying that the West African state hoped to expand co-operation with Việt Nam in agriculture, especially in cacao production.

In his meeting with the Vietnamese leader, Swiss President Johan Schneider Ammann affirmed that negotiations of the Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) were proceeding smoothly.

President Quang also met with the President of Chad Idriss  Deby Itno and the Minister of External Relations of Cameroon, Lejeune Mbella Mbella. — VNS