General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong begins official visit to the French Republic

On the evening of March 25 (local time, last night Hanoi time), General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived in Paris, beginning a 3-day official visit to the French Republic at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Welcoming the delegation at the airport, on the French side were: Minister of Housing, Land, Planning and Urban Affairs Jaccques Mezard, a number of high-ranking officials in the French Government, the French Ambassador to Vietnam. On the Vietnamese side, there was Vietnamese Ambassador to the French Republic Nguyen Thiep, along with a large number of officials and staff of the Embassy, ​​and representatives of the Vietnamese community in France.

Immediately after arriving in Paris, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation went to Montreuil city, laid flowers at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh and visited Ho Chi Minh Space at Montreuil park.

In a solemn and respectful atmosphere, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Mayor of Montreuil city, along with many city officials, French and Vietnamese friends, observed a minute of silence to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh, national liberation hero and world cultural celebrity.

Mayor of Montreuil city, Comrade Patrice Bessac, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the French Communist Party, expressed his honor to welcome General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to visit the city on the occasion of France and Vietnam celebrating the 45th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations and the 5th anniversary of establishing the Strategic Partnership.

Comrade Patrice Bessac emphasized that President Ho Chi Minh is not only the father of the Vietnamese people, but also a typical face of the anti-imperialist and anti-colonial movements for the people of the world and the people of Montreuil city. President Ho Chi Minh not only changed the face of Vietnam, but also left a very deep mark on the international arena.

“The city of Montreuil was one of the first cities to condemn and tirelessly fight against acts of aggression and colonial occupation. The city of Montreuil was also one of the cities that consistently supported the Vietnamese people against French colonialism and later American imperialism. When the General Secretary came here, it could be said that he was in his own home. Many Montreuil residents were comrades of our Vietnamese friends, and stood up to fight and support our Vietnamese friends throughout history,” said Mayor Patrice Bessac.

Comrade Patrice Bessac added that Montreuil city will continue to strengthen cooperation with Hai Duong province of Vietnam; hoping that the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and France will grow stronger and stronger.

The General Secretary expressed his pleasure in visiting the city of Montreuil, a familiar and close place, where there is a statue of President Ho Chi Minh, a Ho Chi Minh space, and meeting French friends of Vietnam in a very friendly and close atmosphere.

The General Secretary stressed that this year Vietnam and France celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations. However, the people-to-people friendship between the two countries has been established and developed for a long time. The typical Vietnamese, President Ho Chi Minh, together with the people of Montreuil, built this strong relationship. Therefore, the city of Montreuil and this place will forever be a symbol of friendship between the French people and the Vietnamese people.

On behalf of the Vietnamese people, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong expressed gratitude to the progressive French people for their solidarity, support and assistance to Vietnam over the past years, and today the relationship between the two countries continues to develop with many good prospects.

The Vietnamese people will always remember and be grateful to the outstanding children of France, close comrades and brothers such as Henri Martin, Raymonde Dien... and many other names. That shows the deep relationship between the two countries. The delegation's visit to France this time aims to promote and strengthen bilateral cooperation, including exchanges and cooperation between localities of the two countries.

At Montreuil Park, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Mayor Patrice Bessas planted a memorial tree - a peach tree symbolizing the everlasting development of Vietnam - France relations. Afterwards, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Mayor Patrice Bessas visited the Living History Museum and Ho Chi Minh Space./.

Spring of the Tiger - Quang Dung