Paris (VNA) – The sound politicalrelations between Vietnam and France will pave the way for the bilateralcooperation in other fields, Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam NguyenThi Kim Ngan and President of the National Assembly of France Richard Ferrandagreed at their talks in Paris on April 1 (local time).

Ngan said her ongoing official visit to Franceaims to maintain and further develop the bilateral strategic partnership andthe parliamentary ties, especially realising the commitments reached by the twocountries’ leaders on inter-parliamentary cooperation.

She said the Vietnam-France friendly relationshave been developing strongly and sustainably, particularly since the two sidesset up bilateral strategic partnership in 2013.

Vietnam always attaches great importance torelations with France in its foreign policy and hopes the two nations willcontinuously work together to deepen their collaboration, she added.

The economic cooperation is a priority pillar inthe bilateral strategic partnership, Ngan said, adding that France is Vietnam’sthird biggest investor with 2.8 billion USD and fourth trade partner with 5.1billion USD among the European countries. 

Vietnam highly appreciates France’s policy ofenhancing economic partnership with the Southeast Asian country. More than 200French enterprises are operating in Vietnam, Chairwoman Ngan said, asking thetwo sides to support businesses to access to the respective markets. 

She informed the host about her working sessionwith the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group and 15 majorbusinesses from France, adding Vietnam hopes French investors will expandcooperation in the future because Vietnam is a gateway to the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Through meeting with the French businesses,Chairwoman Ngan said they are very interested in Vietnam and ASEAN with manysuccessful investment projects. 

Airfrance and Safran – France’s leading aerospaceand defence corporation, signed a maintenance and repair deal worth 6.5 billionUSD with Vietjet Air. On the occasion, VietnamAirlines will receive an Airbus A350 aircraft, while Bamboo Airways is alsonegotiating for its purchase.

Considering such result, Ngan stressedFrench businesses are confident in the Vietnamese market for its stablesocio-economic growth and economic openness.

She noted that Vietnam has to date signed 12free trade agreements, adding that the NA recently ratified the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Vietnam willincorporate international commitments it has inked into the national laws inline with international practice, the top legislator said.

At the talks, the NA Chairwoman praisedcooperation between Vietnamese and French localities as a special feature inbilateral relations. On the occasion, a conference on the collaboration betweenthe two countries’ localities, its 11th edition, will take place inToulouse, France, with the participation of 20 Vietnamese localities. It aimsat boosting diverse engagement in contribution to the development of theVietnam – France strategic partnership.

Appreciating France’s support tostrengthening Vietnam – EU ties, Ngan asked France, as Vietnam’s strategicpartner, to assist the country in speeding up the signing and ratification ofthe EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which will benefit all sidesinvolved.

She also requested the French side back thelifting of EU’s "yellow card" warning to Vietnam, adding that thecountry is making efforts in implementing related EU recommendations. The NAhas approved the revised Law on Fisheries, which responds better tointernational law on the protection and conservation of aquatic resources. Thelaw came into force on January 1, 2019.

Both leaders expressed their delight atrobust growth recorded between the two countries’ law-making bodies. Bilateralrelations were thriving in the recent past, with increased number of visits bytheir high-ranking leaders taking place. In March last year, General Secretaryof the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong paid anofficial visit to France, while French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe made anofficial trip to Vietnam in November the same year. And at the moment, theofficial visit to France by the NA Chairwoman is ongoing.

Following his visit to Vietnam in 2018, French Prime Minister Edouard Philipperelished his prospects on the Vietnam-French relation development in the comingtime, President of the NationalAssembly of France Richard Ferrand said, suggesting both sides worktogether to identify prioritised sectors and outline rational cooperationmeasures to boost the bilateral relations in an effective manner.

He spoke highly of Vietnam’s role in the region and the ASEAN, and expressedhis support for the collaborative relations at the local level.

Regarding the EVFTA, the official stressed that the French Government andNational Assembly support the early signing and ratification of the pact,noting that both sides should work more to accelerate the official signing.

Hailing the sound cooperation between civil aviation corporations of the twocountries, with a line-up of large contracts having been inked, he said that cooperationin the field is a vivid illustration for the Vietnam-France relations.

Meanwhile, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan affirmed that Vietnam stands readyto coordinate with the French National Assembly to bolster bilateralcooperation, making contributions to deepening the good friendship between thetwo countries.

At the talk, Farrand accepted the Vietnamese NA Chairwoman’s invitation andsaid that he will visit Vietnam with a parliamentary and business delegation tofurther the cooperative ties.

The French National Assembly always welcomes the Vietnamese NA to come toFrance to exchange experience, he added. -VNA