Vice President welcomes French guests

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan hosted a reception for a visiting delegation of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group led by President Christine Deroche in Hanoi on February 23.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan (left) welcomes President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group Catherine Deroche (Photo: VNA)

The Vice President highlighted the great contributions made by the Senate of France in promoting relations between the two countries’ legislative bodies, noting that the two sides have built close all-round ties over the last four decades.

She expressed joy at the French Government’s decision to deploy bilateral cooperation mechanisms, which will focus on boosting links with Vietnam in economics, culture, health and the environment. She said this shows the enhanced political trust and further co-operation prospects between the two countries in the future.

The host took the occasion to thank the Senate for its recent support to Vietnam and its approval of the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA), saying that if the French National Assembly considers the early ratification of the PCA, Vietnam-EU co-operation in general and Vietnamese-French relations in particular will be strengthened.

The Vice President hailed France’s successful organisation of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris last year, and called on French firms to further invest in green development projects in Vietnam. Doan also hoped that the delegation’s visit will contribute to bolstering connections among the two countries’ localities in the future.

Christine Deroche said the visit aims to review the bilateral ties in the fields of education, economics and the environment, revealing that the French National Assembly plans to approve the PCA as soon as possible.

In regards to the East Sea issue, the guest stated that her country supports the settlement of related disputes by peaceful measures, in line with international law, stressing that it is necessary to maintain peace and stability in the sea in order to ensure security, safety, navigation and aviation freedom, as well as international trade exchange.

(Source: NDO)