"Upgrading Vietnam-France relations to strategic partnership"
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized that Vietnam attaches importance to its relationship with France, an important partner of Vietnam in Europe and the world, especially this year, an important time when the two countries are aiming to upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized that Vietnam attaches importance to its relationship with France, an important partner of Vietnam in Europe and the world, especially this year, an important time when the two countries are aiming to upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who is visiting and working in Vietnam. (Photo: Duc Tam/VNA)
On the afternoon of May 21, at the Government Headquarters, receiving former Prime Minister of the French Republic Dominique de Villepin who is on a working visit to Vietnam, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung welcomed Mr. Dominique de Villepin's visit to Vietnam. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung expressed his joy at the traditional relationship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and France developing well in various fields, bringing practical benefits to both sides.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that France is currently the second largest European investor in Vietnam, with a capital of 3.1 billion USD and the third largest trade partner of Vietnam, with two-way trade turnover in 2012 reaching 3.2 billion USD; at the same time, France is also the leading European bilateral donor to Vietnam, actively contributing to the cause of hunger eradication, poverty reduction and socio-economic development of Vietnam...
Affirming support for French enterprises to successfully invest in Vietnam, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked France to continue to support the effective implementation of the Hanoi University of Technology project and support Vietnam in soon concluding negotiations and signing the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Besides, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also asked France to support Vietnam's stance that issues related to the East Sea need to be resolved by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin emphasized that the France-Vietnam relationship is very diverse in the fields of politics, economics, education and training, science and technology... especially this year is the decisive year when the two countries upgrade to a strategic partnership.
Mr. Dominique de Villepin said that there are currently many French enterprises wishing to invest in Vietnam in transport infrastructure, energy, water supply and drainage, education and training, etc.
The former French Prime Minister also said that France is looking forward to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's official visit to France this year to formalize the strategic partnership between the two countries.
On the same afternoon, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received Mr. Dominique de Villepin, former Prime Minister of the French Republic who is visiting Vietnam.
Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh welcomed former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's visit to Vietnam and appreciated his active role in promoting Vietnam-France cooperation.
Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to promoting relations with France, an important partner of Vietnam in the European Union, and expressed satisfaction with the strong and extensive development of the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and France in all fields; especially in the context that the two countries are moving towards establishing a strategic partnership on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Mr. Dominique de Villepin expressed his pleasure to visit Vietnam at a special time when the two countries celebrate the establishment of diplomatic relations and believed that with the prospects of cooperation and determination of both sides, the Vietnam-France cooperation relationship will continue to develop deeply and effectively, especially in the fields of transportation, energy, aerospace, etc.
Previously, Mr. Dominique de Villepin had working sessions with Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Huy Hoang and Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang./.
According to (TTXVN) - LT
