Armenia (VNA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh onOctober 12 urged the Francophone community to promote intensive cooperation andtake a holistic approach on all issues in order to find effective solutions to deep-rootedcrisis and instability such as inequality, poverty and underdevelopment.

In his speech at the ongoing 17th Francophonie Summit in Armenia, the Vietnamese official highlightedthe important role by multilateral institutions like the InternationalOrganisation of La Francophonie (OIF), calling on the organisation to continue improving existing mechanisms on conflict prevention and disputesettlement on the basis of international law.

He stressed that Vietnam applauded and supported the theme “Living together in solidarity, sharing humanist values, andrespect for diversity: Sources of peace and prosperity in the Francophonespace”.

Talking about the Asia-Pacific region, Minh said that this is an important partof the Francophone space, which is also dealing with many challenges fromstrategic competition among big countries, ethnic conflicts, terrorism,cybercrime, to climate change.

Vietnam appreciated OIF's efforts to find solutions to political instabilityand conflicts in its member countries, especially in Africa, he stressed,adding that ghe international community should continue to promote measures tobuild confidence, strengthen and expand unity and cooperation in the fields ofeconomy, culture and language, thus further promoting cooperation amongFrench-speaking countries.

With its foreign policy of respect for peace,cooperation and development, Vietnam has made and will make active andresponsible contributions to the joint effort for peace, security anddevelopment of the world in general and in the French-speaking community inparticular, he affirmed.

 At the inter-regionallevel, Vietnam can be proud of contributing to increasing presence of theFrancophone Community in Asia-Pacific, as well as to promoting cooperationbetween the IOF and other countries in the region.

At the regional level, Vietnam has always been active in working with relevantparties to find peaceful solutions to disputes in the East Sea in accordancewith international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), Minhsaid.

Vietnam expects the French-speaking community to continue to have an impartialvoice and to support efforts to ensure security, safety, freedom of navigationand aviation in the East Sea, he added.

The Vietnamese official emphasised that Vietnam has decided to run for anon-permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, therebyaffirming the country’s strong commitment and willingness to make morecontributions to common efforts of the international community.

Vietnam desires to receive support of IOF member nations, hesaid, pledging that the country will cooperate closely with other members to promotethe priority issues of the Francophone Community if it is elected.

Minh asserted that Vietnam is committed to continuing its cooperation with IOF membercountries in promoting the common values of the Francophone Community forpeace, stability and prosperity.

He called on the IOF to devise and implement strategies toassist its member countries in implementing this commitment.

On the same day, on the sidelines of the summit, Deputy PM and FM Minh hadseparate meetings with leaders of many countries attending the event.

In his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, the two sides expressedtheir pleasure at the fruitful development of the bilateral relations in recenttimes, and agreed to enhance the exchange of high-level delegations to promotepolitical trust in the spirit of the Strategic Partnership. They also agreed tocontinue to coordinate effectively at multilateral forums, especially withinthe framework of the UN and the Francophonie community.

Meeting with the Vietnamese official, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian saidhe is always interested in the development and integration of Vietnam, and congratulatedVietnam for its great achievements in socio-economic development. Both sidesaffirmed their determination to promote their relations in politics, economy,education and sciences, as well as in cultural and tourism exchange, and peopleexchange.

In a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Parshynian, Minh congratulatedArmenian on the successful organisation of the 17th Francophonie Summit.The two sides stressed the need to promote bilateral economic and tradecooperation matching the Vietnam-Armenia political relations.

Both sides agreed to increase cooperation and shareexperience in education and training. Nikol Parshynian expressed his wish towelcome Vietnamese students to study in Armenia.

Minh also had a meeting with Foreign Minister of Madagascar Eloi Alphone MaximaDovo, during which the two sides affirmed the good traditional relationsbetween Vietnam and Madagascar built by President Ho Chi Minh and generationsof patriotic leaders of Madagascar. The Vietnamese official suggested Madagascarcreate favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the host country tolive, work, integrate and contribute to the local society.

Working with Foreign Minister of the Republic of GuineaMamadi Toure, Minh thanked Guinea’s support for Vietnam's candidacy for anon-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. The twosides agreed that the bilateral cooperation should be further promoted through theexchange of high-level delegations and between ministries, affirming that it isnecessary to maintain and expand the tripartite cooperation model and to continuesupporting each other at multilateral forums.

In Minh’s meeting with Foreign Minister of Cameroon Mbella Mbella, the twosides agreed to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the twocountries. Minister Mbella Mbella asserted that Cameroon and himself alwayssupport good and strong relationship with Vietnam.

Minh suggested the Government of Cameroon continue to make it easy forVietnamese enterprises such as Viettel to invest and do business in the Africancountry, while Mbella Mbella pledged to find solutions and efforts to removedifficulties as well as to create favourable conditions for foreign businesses,including those from Vietnam, to invest in Cameroon.

Established in 1970, the OIF’s mission is to engage its 84member states and governments (58 members and 26 observers), which together representmore than a third of UN member states and account for a population of over 900million people, including 274 million French speakers.

The IOF organises multilateral cooperationpolitical activities and actions that benefit French-speaking populations. 

Vietnam has been an OIF member since 1979. Ithosted the summit’s 7th edition in Hanoi in 1997 which adopted the Charter ofLa Francophonie and elected the first OIF Secretary General.-VNA