Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly Chairwoman NguyenThi Kim Ngan received Senator Catherine Deroche, President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group(FVFPG) of the Senate of France, in Hanoi on September 20.

The Vietnamese top legislator appreciated contributions bythe Senate of France, the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Groupsof the Lower House and the Senate of France to promoting the relationsbetween the two countries and legislatures.

Vietnam wants to expand the bilateral relations acrossfields and at all levels, she said.

NA Chairwoman Ngan stressed that the signing of the EU-VietnamFree Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA)in June thisyear will open new opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam and Europe ingeneral and between Vietnam and France in particular.

She suggested the Senate of France continue to support and promote the European Parliament and member countriesof the EU to approve the two agreements soon.

Ngan underlinedthe effective and practical cooperation in health care and culture between thetwo countries, expressing her hope that the French side will continue to createfavourable for and support French teaching projects in Vietnam.

The two sides exchanged views on the East Sea issue. NA Chairwoman Ngan hailed the stance of supportingfreedom, security and safety of navigation and aviation in the sea, and askedthe French side to continue supporting Vietnam's stance in resolving disputesby peaceful means, respecting international law, including the 1982 UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and respecting legitimate rights and interests of the countries inthe East Sea.

For her part, Catherine said that meetings in the framework of the VietnameseNA high-ranking delegation’s visit to France in April this year contributed tostrengthening multifaceted-cooperation between the two sides.

She highlighted the cooperation potential between the two nations, saying that the FVFPG of the Senate of France has worked with variousdelegations from committees of the Vietnamese NA and shared experience inculture, financial and organization of local administrations.

Theguest said she also met with representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry ofForeign Affairs, and the two sides agreed to expand cooperation in universityeducation and youth exchange between the two countries.

The Vietnamese top legislator took the occasion ask her guest to conveyher regards to President and Vice President of the Senate of France, expressingher desire to welcome French parliamentarians to attend the Conference on Vietnamese-Frenchlocal cooperation in Hanoi in 2021./.