Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh met with Minister of State attached to France’sMinister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne in Hanoi onJanuary 24.

Deputy PM Minh lauded the outcomes of the twocountries’ fifth high-level economic dialogue earlier on January 24 and theprogress in their partnership.

He appreciated Vietnamese and French agencies’efforts in preparing for the celebrations of 45 years of diplomatic ties andfive years of the strategic partnership.

As France is a leading European economic partnerof Vietnam, the French Government should encourage the country’s enterprises tostep up business activities in Vietnam, he noted.

He also asked the European nation to help Vietnamrealise the commitments in the Paris Agreement on climate change and supportthe early signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

The Vietnamese Government pledges favourableconditions for French firms to access markets and invest and do business infields that France is strong at such as infrastructure, energy, health care andpharmaceuticals, food industry and agriculture, he said.

For his part, Minister of State Lemoyne hailedVietnam’s socio-economic achievements, international integration and thesuccessful APEC Year 2017. He also welcomed the bilateral agenda for 2018,especially upcoming high-ranking visits.

He affirmed that the French Governmentprioritises intensifying the countries’ strategic partnership.

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At the meeting, the two officials agreed topromote educational cooperation on the basis of common cultural, historical andlanguage values. Lemoyne emphasised Vietnam’s role in the Francophone communityand France’s wish to continue developing the French language in Vietnam.

The two sides noted with satisfaction that theircountries agree on many issues such as advocating multilateralism and freetrade, supporting each other at international forums like the United Nationsand the Asia-Europe Meeting and contributing to the settlement of internationalaffairs like peace and security, climate change and counter-terrorism.

Cooperation mechanisms on politics, economy anddefence also need to be maintained so as to create trust, they said.

With regard to the East Sea issue, Lemoyneaffirmed his country’s interest in exercising the principle of freedom, safetyand security of navigation in the region. The officials agreed to call on involvedparties to fulfill international obligations and avoid activities that couldcomplicate the situation or raise tensions.

They affirmed that all disputes must be resolvedby peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Conventionon the Law of the Sea.-VNA