National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân (right) had talks with President of the France-Việt Nam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group (FVFPG), French Senator Catherine Deroche, in Hà Nội on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân received Senator Catherine Deroche, President of the France-Việt Nam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group (FVFPG) of the Senate of France, in Hà Nội yesterday.
The top Vietnamese legislator appreciated the contributions of the Senate of France, the France-Việt Nam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Groups of the Lower House and the Senate of France to promoting relations between the two countries and legislatures.
Việt Nam wanted to expand bilateral relations across fields and at all levels, she said.
NA Chairwoman Ngân stressed that the signing of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement and the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) in June this year would open new co-operation opportunities between Việt Nam and Europe and between Việt Nam and France in particular.
She suggested the senate urge the European Parliament and member countries of the EU to approve the two agreements soon.
Ngân underlined the effective co-operation in health care and culture between the two countries, expressing her hope the French side will continue to support French teaching projects in Việt Nam.
The two sides also exchanged views on the East Sea issue. NA Chairwoman Ngân urged supporting freedom, security and safety of navigation and aviation in the sea, and asked the French to continue supporting Việt Nam’s stance in resolving disputes by peaceful means, respecting international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and respecting the legitimate rights and interests of countries in the East Sea.
For her part, Deroche said meetings during the Vietnamese NA high-ranking delegation’s visit to France in April this year contributed to ties between the two sides.
She highlighted the co-operation potential between the two nations, saying the FVFPG of the Senate of France has worked with various delegations from committees of the Vietnamese NA and shared experience in culture, financial and organisations of local administrations.
The guest said she also met representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the two sides agreed to expand co-operation in university education and youth exchange between the two countries.
The Vietnamese legislator took the occasion to ask her guest to convey her regards to President and Vice President of the Senate of France, expressing her desire to welcome French parliamentarians to attend the Conference on Vietnamese-French local co-operation in Hà Nội in 2021. — VNS