Vietnam urges France to support early signing of EU-Vietnam FTA
Leaders of Vietnam’s National Assembly and Government have urged the French legislature to support the early signing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (R) receives President of the French National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee Elisabeth Guigou (Source: VGP)
Hanoi (VNA)🔴 – Leaders of Vietnam’s National Assembly and Government have urged the French legislature to support the early signing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to boost trade-investment links between the two countries.
Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan made the call while receiving President of the French National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee Elisabeth Guigou in Hanoi on December 16.
Ngan said she hopes the two sides will forge ahead with cooperation for effective investment in the fields of infrastructure, transport, energy and outer space – the strengths of French businesses.
She expressed her pleasure at the growing friendship and collaboration between the two nations’ parliaments, which are attributable to the regular delegation exchanges, legislative experience sharing, and close coordination at multilateral forums.
Vietnam’s National Assembly wants to further relations with French parliament in the field, she added.
In turn, Elisabeth Guigou said she hopes the two countries’ parliaments will increase cooperation and information exchanges in the coming time.
She also expressed her confidence in the thriving relations between Vietnam and France, particularly in culture and economics.
At a separate meeting with the French guest the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said he hopes France will accelerate the ratification of the PCA and the signing of the EVFTA.
He hailed France’s role as the host of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) and asked France to continue to support Vietnam in implementing the global agreement reached at the conference.
He confirmed Vietnam will do its utmost together with France to beef up their strategic partnership across politics-diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, tourism, military technology, culture, education and training.
Elisabeth Guigou informed her host that the French Senate will consider the Vietnam – EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) on December 17 for early ratification on the outset of 2016.
She said the French parliament strongly supports the strengthening of relations between the European Union (EU) and Vietnam.
She noted that the French President highly valued Vietnam’s contributions to the COP 21, adding that the President said he wants to make a visit to Vietnam in the coming year.
Guigou also said France has closely followed the situation in the East Sea. She reiterated France’s viewpoint on respecting and abiding by international law, ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.-VNA
Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Huynh Ngoc Son has led a Vietnamese delegation to France to boost mutual understanding with the French parliament, helping strengthen the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.
President Truong Tan Sang affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to developing all-around relations with France as one of its top partners during meeting with French President Francois Hollande.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said France and Vietnam should support each other in responding to climate change during talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Paris on Nov. 30.
Ha expressed his hope that cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, and natural resources would emerge as new focal points and engines of growth in Vietnam–China relations.
Giang said he believes that building on the solid foundation nurtured over the past half-century and the strong determination of both nations, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to grow in a more robust, comprehensive, and extensive manner, thus bringing more practical benefits to the two nations' people.
Highlighting the transformative potential of the draft law in revitalising Vietnam’s railway industry, Hoang Van Cuong, a deputy of Hanoi, expressed his support for Article 39, which empowers the Prime Minister to issue a list of railway-related goods and services to be assigned or ordered from domestic enterprises for production.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in connection with a case involving the Hoang Long Construction and Manpower Supply JSC and related units.
Chairing a national conference on the organisation of the examination on June 18, the PM highlighted the historical significance of the examination, as the restructuring of provincial-level administrative units is underway and the two-tier local administration model is set to officially begin operations on July 1.
Right on the same day, the ministry issued its highest-level travel warning, urging Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Israel or Iran, and advised those already in these countries to swiftly consider evacuation or relocation plans.
From the struggles against colonialists and imperialists to the period of Doi moi (renewal) and international integration, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has always played a pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front, he said.
The Party leader's working session with the standing boards of the Party Committees of HCM City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong, the VNA General Director's remarks on the occasion of the 19th OANA General Assembly, the launch of new NIC - Google initiatives aimed at bolstering AI entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Vietnam are among news highlights June 18.
Vietnam and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism as it remains a threat to peace, security, and stability across their respective nations, the broader region, and the international community.
The Vietnamese representative also emphasised the shared responsibility of relevant parties to build trust, enhance cooperation, and jointly manage the risks of conflict, thus safeguarding long-term peace and stability in the East Sea.
The National Assembly on June 18 passed the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality, with 408 out of 420 participating deputies voting in favour, accounting for 85.36% of the total.
The Party leader asked the new HCM City to embrace a multi-centre and integrated urban ecosystem where each development pole functions as a link complementary to and intelligently connected with each other in a harmonious whole.
The resolutions issued by the PM as well as ministries and ministry-level agencies reassign responsibility for 346 administrative procedures - 18 from district to provincial levels, 278 to commune level, and 50 eliminated.
Legislators are due to pass several amended laws, including the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, and the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
Vietnamese localities' readiness to implement the two-tier local administration model, the evacuation of 18 Vietnamese citizens from Iran, Petrovietnam's 11th ranking in the 2025 Fortune Southeast Asia 500 are among news highlights on June 17 evening.
The General Secretary underlined the resolve to achieve a growth rate of at least 8% in 2025, laying the groundwork for double-digit growth in the following period. He noted that these are mandatory targets, with no alternative path to success.
Restructuring and improving the quality of officials, civil servants, and public employees is no longer a choice, but an urgent requirement to transition from administrative management to governance in service of the people.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has advised Vietnamese people living there to proactively prepare and seek ways to leave the country via land border crossings, especially toward Jordan or Egypt, when security and safety conditions allow.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (R) receives President of the French National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee Elisabeth Guigou (Source: VGP) 
