President: Tran Dai Quang: 'Between Vietnam and France is a sincere friendship'

The President affirmed that, beyond political and economic factors... between France and Vietnam, between the two peoples, is a sincere friendship.

Speaking at the reception for French President Francois Hollande, President Tran Dai Quang welcomed Mr. Hollande and members of the delegation on their State visit to Vietnam and affirmed that this was a long-awaited visit.

President Tran Dai Quang speaks at a reception for French President Francois Hollande. Photo: Manh Thang/Dan Tri.

“There are many reasons, but one thing that needs to be emphasized is that every Vietnam-France meeting is an opportunity for reunion and every visit always creates new momentum for the relationship that has overcome the ups and downs of history to have long and strong development paths,” said President Tran Dai Quang.

According to the President, the 20-year cycle is very interesting in the close relationship between Vietnam and France. In 1973, the two countries established official diplomatic relations. In 1993, President Francois Mitterrand visited Vietnam, marking a new beginning in the relationship between the two countries. In 2013, the two countries witnessed the Vietnam - France Strategic Partnership being solemnly signed in Paris. President Hollande's visit to Vietnam this time will be an important milestone bringing the Vietnam - France Strategic Partnership to a new stage, developing substantially and effectively for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

“France has always been Vietnam’s leading partner in Europe as well as in the world. Relations with France hold a priority position in Vietnam’s foreign policy. The two countries have overcome historical difficulties to have many decades of fruitful cooperation. By establishing a strategic partnership, we demonstrate a political will to bring new values ​​and stature to the Vietnam-France relationship, while also demonstrating our determination to jointly seize opportunities and deal with challenges facing the two countries on the path of development,” President Tran Dai Quang emphasized.

According to President Tran Dai Quang, a long-term vision for cooperation cannot lack a peaceful, secure and stable environment, where there is no use of force or threat of force, where there is no terrorism, where the aspirations of all peoples are respected, international law is observed and all disputes and disagreements are resolved by peaceful means. These are the common values ​​that France and Vietnam have been working towards in their activities at the International Organization of Francophonie as well as in international and regional forums.

The President affirmed that, beyond political, economic, cultural and scientific factors, between France and Vietnam and between the two peoples is a sincere friendship, as Voltaire said: "A good friend is more valuable than all the great things in the world"./.

According to VOV