Deputy Prime Minister receives Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie

On the morning of March 13, in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh had a meeting and talks with Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie Abdou Diouf on the occasion of Mr. Abdou Diouf's official visit to Vietnam from March 13-15.

Speaking at the talks, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the coordination, cooperation and assistance of the International Organization of La Francophonie as well as Secretary General Abdou Diouf to Vietnam in recent times, in activities as well as tripartite cooperation programs within the framework of the Francophone Community.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh expressed his confidence in Francophone activities and emphasized Vietnam's efforts in participating and contributing to the activities of the International Organization of La Francophonie in order to take measures to further strengthen the role of the International Organization of La Francophonie as well as promote cooperative relations with this international organization.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that he always actively participates and is a responsible member of the Francophone Community and the International Organization of the Francophone. This is Vietnam's foreign policy and guideline to actively and proactively participate in the international community to serve the common goal of peace, cooperation, solidarity and friendship, and to strengthen Vietnam's relations with other countries. Therefore, Vietnam fully supports the major orientations of Francophone cooperation in the fields of cultural and linguistic diversity, peace, democracy, human rights, education, training, solidarity and development.

For his part, Secretary General Abdou Diouf expressed his joy and excitement to return to Vietnam for the second time, especially on the occasion of the International Francophonie Day, and to witness the rapid changes and development of Vietnam in recent years.

Secretary General Abdou Diouf congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in various fields, with its dynamism, and highly appreciated Vietnam's active and effective participation in various fields within the framework of the Francophone Community. In particular, Vietnam successfully organized the 7th Summit of French-speaking countries in 1997 in Hanoi, with the adoption of the Charter and the election of the first Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie. Vietnam's initiatives and contributions to Francophone activities are very useful, meaningful and important, contributing to strongly promoting the Francophone movement and activities in the world.

Secretary General Abdou Diouf emphasized: “Vietnam is the center of regional Francophone activities as well as of the International Organization of the Francophone, demonstrated through the presence of Vietnamese representatives in all Francophone activities and events in the world, at different levels, in meetings, exchanges, and interactions… Currently, the International Organization of the Francophone is organizing the drafting of the “Medium-term Strategic Cooperation Framework”, with the participation of a Working Group, headed by a representative of Vietnam. That shows Vietnam’s active and responsible participation in Francophone programs and activities”.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and Secretary General Abdou Diouf witnessed the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on the International Organization of La Francophonie's support for the Francophone Research and Cooperation Center in the Asia-Pacific region.

According to Secretary General Abdou Diouf, Vietnam has always played an important role in Francophone activities in the region and the world. Secretary General Abdou Diouf expressed his confidence and hope that Vietnam will continue to participate and actively contribute to Francophone activities in the coming time, contributing to expanding and promoting Francophone activities in the region as well as in the world.

Immediately after the talks, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and the Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie witnessed the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on the International Organization of La Francophonie's support for the Francophone Research and Cooperation Center in the Asia-Pacific region.

According to VOV