Vietnam elected as Chair of Group of Francophone Ambassadors

ABO/NDO – Vietnam was elected as Chair of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors (GAF) in Switzerland in 2018 during the 8th meeting of the group in Bern on February 19.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Switzerland Pham Hai Bang (Photo: VNA)

At the meeting, Swiss Ambassador Anne Lugon-Mounlin said that the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs completed its two-year tenure as the first Chair of the GAF and nominated Vietnam as its successor.

Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Hai Bang pledged that Vietnam will work hard for the development of the GAF, while connecting members of the International Organisation of Francophone (OIF).

Firstly, Vietnam will coordinate with other members to organise activities within the framework of the Francophone Week in Switzerland in March, said the ambassador.

Bang also asked for support from the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs and heads of diplomatic agencies of the member nations, and especially Ambassador Anne Lugon-Mounlin, to help Vietnam successfully assume the role as the GAF Chair.

Congratulating Ambassador Bang for his new position, Henri Eli Monceau, head of the OIF permanent mission to the United Nations, said that he hopes Vietnam will continue promoting the spirit of the OIF Summit in Hanoi in 1997 for the common goals of the French-speaking community.

The GAF groups more than 60 ambassadors from embassies of countries in Bern and permanent missions to the United Nations in Geneva who are members or observers of the OIF.

(Source: NDO)