PARIS — The National Assembly (NA) and Government of Việt Nam will continue tweaking the legal system to create favourable conditions for foreign enterprises, including those from France, in the Southeast Asian country, according to the country’s top lawmaker.

NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân delivered the commitment at a working breakfast with the France-Việt Nam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group and representatives of 15 major French businesses in Paris on Monday.

Ngân said the Vietnamese NA delegation’s visit aims to deepen the Việt Nam-France strategic partnership, as well as bilateral legislative ties, helping enhance co-operation between the two countries, with economic-trade collaboration as the centre.

She praised France’s policy to strengthen economic co-operation with Việt Nam and hoped French firms would expand their business in the Southeast Asian country.

At the working breakfast, representatives of French enterprises such as Air Liquide and Total spoke highly of the Vietnamese market’s potential in energy, especially renewable energy.

Meanwhile, representatives of other businesses showed interest in aviation infrastructure development, logistics, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, wholesale market building and clean food supply.

In energy, a representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade said Việt Nam would support projects involving French companies, saying the country will create the best possible conditions so the projects are implemented effectively and on schedule.

A representative of the NA’s Committee for Legal Affairs said the Vietnamese legislature will continue to study the Law on Investment to make it easier for investors to participate in projects in Việt Nam.

An official of Hà Nội detailed the progress of some projects involving French partners, including a hospital for mothers and children, whose construction will begin in May 2019 and is expected to be completed in October 2020, a centre of emergency aid in combination with firefighting and a farm produce wholesale market in Gia Lâm District.

In her closing speech, Ngân said the Vietnamese NA will work harder to complete laws regarding economic affairs, in line with international practices and integration processes Việt Nam has committed in free trade agreements (FTAs), thus ensuring transparency, publicity and equality for domestic and foreign investors.

The Vietnamese Government will create a competitive, favourable and open investment environment, and carry out administrative reforms, from corporate establishment to customs and tax affairs, she said.

The same day, NA leader Ngân met leaders of Safran, French multinational aircraft engine, rocket engine, aerospace-component and defence company.

Ngân expressed her thanks to Safran for their collaboration with Vietnamese partners such as Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and Vietjet Air for the past 22 years.

She expressed her hope that the corporation would study building a facility in Việt Nam specilising in aircraft engine maintenance and component manufacturing, transfer technology to Việt Nam in supporting industry and support Việt Nam with human resource training.

Earlier on Sunday, Ngân met with Secretary-General of the France-Việt Nam Friendship Association Jean-Pierre Archambault in Paris.

The top legislator noted with satisfaction that the two countries’ friendship has been developing strongly, especially since they set up the strategic partnership in 2013.

Archambault expressed his delight at the thriving relations in multiple spheres, including frequent mutual visits by leaders.

Chairwoman Ngân highly valued activities of the friendship associations, noting that people-to-people exchanges are an important channel to promote the friendship and cooperation between the two states and people.

The Vietnamese legislator also asked the Association to continue having a voice in the support for Vietnamese people’s organisations in France and advocate the preservation of the Vietnamese culture and language in the Vietnamese community in the country.

The chairwoman reiterated the Vietnamese State, National Assembly and people wishes to solidify relations with their French counterparts for the sake of each country and for regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Interview with French press

In an interview with French daily newspaper L’Opinion about Việt Nam’s economic prospects, Chairwoman Ngân said the Vietnamese economy will continue its rapid, sustainable and inclusive growth based on a strong domestic market of 95 million people with increasing incomes.

Vietnamese people’s creativity and aspirations to improve themselves, especially young people under 35 years old who account for 60 per cent of the population, drive the nation’s development, she said.

Besides, Việt Nam is renewing its growth model based on renovation and creativity and digital economic transformation, while encouraging the development of start-ups, taking advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and promoting the private economic sector, Ngân said.

The country is also improving its legal frameworks towards a modern market economy in conformity with international standards and commitments in new-generation FTAs, she said.

With 12 signed FTAs, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and FTAs with important markets as ASEAN, China, Japan and Russia, Việt Nam has taken a further step in global integration, she underlined.

Regarding the EVFTA’s impacts on Vietnamese trade prospects, the Chairwoman highlighted the importance of the deal, in terms of both strategy and commerce, as it will open various opportunities for Việt Nam and the EU. Both sides need to finalise procedures so as to soon sign and ratify the pact, ensuring it will take effect as soon as possible, she noted.

Meeting Vietnamese

On Sunday Chairwoman Ngân met organisers of the Việt Nam Global Leaders Forum (VLGF). The VLGT, held for the first time in Paris over the weekend, is an initiative of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts (AVSE).

NA Chairwoman Ngân praised the initiatives to connect overseas Vietnamese for the shared purpose of developing the nation. She spoke highly of the aspirations of Vietnamese intellectuals to contribute to the homeland’s development.

The leader held that each forum should give a specific message in conformity with development orientations of Việt Nam, seeking practical recommendations to realise the targets.

The same day during the meeting with the overseas Vietnamese (OV) community in Paris, Ngân said the State has enacted measures to help the OV community stabilise life and integrate into the host society while preserving and promoting Vietnamese culture, as well as adopting open policies related to nationality, visa exemption, house ownership, investment and business for OVs.

As a legislative body, the NA will continue accompanying the Government and localities to remove difficulties and create favourable conditions for OVs to return home for making investment, doing business and transferring technology, she said.

She used the occasion to present the first-class Independence Order to the association of Vietnamese people in France in recognition of its remarkable achievements in building, reinforcing, and developing the OV community in France. — VNS