Paris (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with President of the French Senate Gérard Larcher in Paris on June 10 (local time) as part of his bilateral activities in France.

The Vietnamese leader sincerely thanked the President of the Senate for his warm welcome and respectfully conveyed the greetings of Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to Gérard Larcher.

Chinh congratulated France on successfully organising major international events, including the Olympic Games, the 19th Francophonie Summit in 2024, and most recently, the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC 3). He affirmed that Vietnam’s participation in the conference and its ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) demonstrated support for France’s role in promoting international cooperation and enhancing sustainable marine and ocean governance and conservation.

At the meeting, Senate President Gérard Larcher expressed his delight at seeing PM Chinh again, calling him a dear friend of France and of his own.

Both leaders welcomed the positive developments in bilateral relations, the strong cooperation between their legislative bodies, and the recent socio-economic achievements of the two countries despite global uncertainties.

The Vietnamese PM emphasised that the bilateral relationship is on an “upward trajectory.” Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in defence and security, including peacekeeping, disaster relief, science-technology, energy, and transportation.

They also agreed to enhance cooperation in education and training, including exchanges between universities, as well as cultural collaboration, especially in preserving historical sites featuring French architecture in Vietnam. In health care, they discussed vaccine production not only for Vietnam but also for the region, referencing a recent technology transfer agreement between Sanofi and Vietnam’s VNVC.

The Prime Minister and the Senate President also agreed to promote the exchange of high-level delegations and facilitate interactions between specialised committees and friendship parliamentary groups, with the goal of sharing experience and improving the effectiveness of legislative activities.

Chinh called on the French Senate to strengthen its cooperation with Vietnam’s National Assembly in approving bilateral agreements and enhancing coordination and mutual support at regional and global inter-parliamentary forums. He also urged France to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

Furthermore, he asked Gérard Larcher personally to support and promote France's early confirmation of hosting the 13th Vietnam-France Decentralised Cooperation Conference. This important mechanism fosters local and people-to-people exchanges and should be maintained and promoted, particularly as the two countries elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Host and guest also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. They expressed support for ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea and emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region based on the rule of law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They underscored the need to resolve disputes peacefully, in accordance with international law, without the use or threat of force.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Chinh respectfully conveyed an invitation from National Assembly Chaꦕirman Tran Thanh Man to 🐽Senate President Gérard Larcher to visit Vietnam./.