PARIS — Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng paid a working visit to France from October 26-28 to continue cementing ties between Việt Nam and France.
During his trip, Dũng held working sessions with Minister of Environment François de Rugy, and CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD) Rémy Rioux, paid a courtesy visit to Vice President of the Senate Philippe Dallier, and received representatives from several French groups and companies.
The Deputy PM also worked with officials of the French Prime Minister’s Office to prepare for PM Édouard Philippe’s upcoming visit to Việt Nam.
During the meetings, both sides stressed that the Việt Nam-France Strategic Partnership has developed strongly over recent years. Currently, France is the only European nation with whom Việt Nam has co-operative mechanisms in all fields, ranging from politics, security, defence to economy, science, culture and education.
Together with the official visit to France by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee Nguyễn Phú Trọng in March 2018, the upcoming visit by PM Philippe manifests the trust and closeness between senior leaders of the two countries. During the French PM’s visit, the two sides expect to sign different agreements on digitalisation, health and communications.
The two sides affirmed their wish to improve the efficiency of existing mechanisms to intensify bilateral relations at all levels. They agreed that economic cooperation is a priority pillar in the bilateral strategic partnership, but needs to be fostered to match fine political ties.
They vowed to continue supporting the implementation of economic cooperation projects, and creating favourable conditions for the two countries’ enterprises to step up business connectivity in the fields of health, agriculture and aerospace.
Dung urged the French Government and Senate to early complete necessary procedures to officially sign a free trade agreement (FTA) and an investment protection agreement (IPA) between the European Union and Việt Nam in late 2018 and ratify them in early 2019, so as to realise huge benefits of the EU-Việt Nam FTA.
The Deputy PM said that he welcomed and hoped France will have a stronger voice in supporting the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures, upholding the supremacy of law in seas and oceans as well as ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.
At his meetings with Environment Minister François de Rugy, and CEO of the AFD Rémy Rioux, Deputy PM Dung appreciated France’s assistance to Việt Nam through AFD aid worth over US$2.28 billion for 80 projects that have helped Việt Nam implement green growth goals and Paris Agreement commitments.
The French officials promised to expand co-operation with Việt Nam in different fields such as environmental protection, disaster prevention and control, and natural resources development and protection, and support Việt Nam in making policies to adapt to climate change.
Receiving leaders of Total and Air Liquide Groups and Aaquius company, Dũng encouraged them to continue expanding investment in Việt Nam in the fields of renewable energy and green development to help the country carry out international commitments to climate change adaptation.—VNS