Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh receives Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) Louise Mushikiwabo in Hà Nội on Friday. VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh lauded the Francophone community as an important partner of Việt Nam during his talks with Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) Louise Mushikiwabo in Hà Nội on Friday.
Minh and Mushikiwabo discussed the Francophone community’s prioritised activities in the near future, measures to boost ties between Việt Nam and French-speaking countries, and preparations for the 50th anniversary of the OIF and the 18th Summit of the Francophonie in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.
Việt Nam supports the Francophone community’s common efforts, especially in promoting the use of French language, economic cooperation, innovation, sustainable development, and OIF governance reform, thus better meeting expectations of its member states, he said.
Minh mentioned several proposals to step up collaboration between Việt Nam and the Francophone community, especially in economic and trade co-operation with African countries, teaching French and other subjects in the French language, and UN peacekeeping activities.
Mushikiwabo said amid uncertainties and challenges in the world, the OIF had many chances to affirm its role and voice on international issues.
She hailed Việt Nam for its important role in the Asia-Pacific, especially in maintaining the presence of the French language.
In order to boost ties with African countries in various areas, she suggested that Việt Nam should further increase French language teaching, and pledged the OIF would partner Việt Nam in the process, as well as on UN peacekeeping missions and economic and trade co-operation with African countries, especially French-speaking nations.

Mushikiwabo had a meeting with Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh and Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình on the same day.

During a reception for Mushikiwabo, Bình said as an active Francophone member in Asia-Pacific, Việt Nam would would continue to increase the Francophone presence in the region by launching initiatives to enhance collaboration between Francophone countries in Africa and those in the region, as well as between the OIF, the Union of African States and  Asia-Pacific, and with ASEAN. — VNS