Hanoi (VNA) – The upcoming official visitto France by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen PhuTrong will reflect the two countries’ respect for each other and their resolveto enhance multifaceted cooperation, opening a new period of flourishing tiesin the years ahead.

The remark was made by Vietnamese Ambassador toFrance Nguyen Thiep in a interview with Vietnam News Agency on the threshold ofthe trip from March 25 to 27, which will be made at the invitation of FrenchPresident Emmanuel Macron.

The ambassador said the two countries set updiplomatic ties on April 12, 1973. Overcoming ups and downs in history, overthe past 45 years, especially since the establishment of the strategicpartnership in 2013, Vietnam-France relations have developed well.

France is an important European partner ofVietnam. It also respects Vietnam’s stature and contributions to peace,stability and development in the region and the world. Vietnam’s membership ofthe ASEAN Economic Community and many free trade agreements, including theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which will take effect in thenear future, will bring new cooperation chances for both countries.

He noted that during the upcoming visit, the twosides are scheduled to sign a series of important cooperation documents ondefence, justice, space technology, intellectual property, climate changeresponse and tourism, along with economic contracts worth tens of billions ofUSD.

Strategic plans and new cooperation frameworksand mechanisms issued during the trip will develop the Vietnam-France strategicpartnership.

The visit will also be an occasion to populariseVietnam as a country with many reform achievements, a trustworthy partner readyto bolster ties with France, an emerging market with numerous investment and businessopportunities for French businesses and an attractive, safe and friendlydestination for French tourists, Thiep said.

He told Vietnam News Agency that when the EVFTAcomes into force, trade between Vietnam and the EU will improve in both qualityand quantity. He expressed his belief that trade links between Vietnam andFrance will also grow in the time ahead.

Accordingly, French companies will have manychances to boost exports to the Southeast Asian nation, especially agriculturalproducts, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, fashion items, high-end furniture, hi-techmachinery, transport vehicles and chemicals. They can also help Vietnam takepart in their production chains and access advanced technologies.

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The two countries’ businesses can also partner ininvestment and production to export goods to not only ASEAN but also Europeancountries and other markets around the world, Ambassador Thiep noted.

Meanwhile, culture and education-training areamong the priority fields for cooperation in their strategic partnership, hesaid, elaborating that cultural exchanges are expanding. The French Governmentallocates about 5 million EUR (6.1 million USD) for cultural cooperation withVietnam each year, including support for French culture centres in Hanoi (L’Espace),Ho Chi Minh City (Institute of Cultural Exchange with France – IDECAF), Huecity and Da Nang city.

With 14 projects worth 188 million USD, Franceranks seventh among countries and territories with tourism investment inVietnam, which considers the EU nation a key source of tourists. In 2017,Vietnam welcomed 255,370 French visitors, up 6 percent from 2016.

According to the diplomat, France regardseducation and training as a priority in its cooperation in Vietnam, focusing onFrench teaching and human resources training at tertiary level in various areaslike economic management, banking, finance, law and new technology.

The French Government has annually granted 80scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in France, mostly for trainingprogrammes at master and doctoral levels. The number of Vietnamese students inthe country has increased by some 40 percent over the last 10 years to about7,000 at present.

Regarding the Vietnamese community in France,Thiep said they have greatly contributed to the homeland and the two countries’relations. With about 300,000 people, the community has organised donationprogrammes to support the disadvantaged in Vietnam, presented scholarships touniversity students and promoted science and technique development projects. 

They have also integrated soundly into localsociety. Many associations of Vietnamese people here have supported one anotherand served as a bridge helping to nurture friendship between the two peoples.

More and more Vietnamese-French are takingimportant positions in economic, political and scientific-technical spheres inFrance, consolidating the community’s status in France, he noted, adding thatthe visit by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will also be an occasion toaffirm that the Party and State always pay attention to expatriates in France –an integral part of Vietnam.-VNA