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Mar 28, 2018 / 13:40

Vietnam, France agree to enhance strategic partnership

Vietnam`s Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong is willing to broaden cooperation with France.

Vietnamese Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed ways to deepen their strategic partnership during talks on March 27, aimed to pave a new development phase for bilateral ties.
 
Communist Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (L) shakes hand with France's President Macrom
Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (L) shakes hand with France's President Emmanuel Macron. Photo: AFP
During the talks, both sides agreed that disputes should be solved by peaceful means, in line with international laws, proving the responsible roles of nations for the security and development of the region, said Vietnam News Agency.
They discussed on capacity and means to reinforce cooperation on science-industry, healthcare projects, energy, research cooperation, and training education. President Macron calls for opening a French school in Vietnam while Trong asks France to facilitate Vietnamese community in France contribute to the development of France as well as bilateral ties.
Macron asked Vietnam to create favorable conditions for French businesses, while stepping up cooperation in defense, security, legislative work and civil servant training.
Both sides agreed to significantly increase bilateral trade, promote cooperation in telecommunications, energy, aviation, environment and climate change, and facilitate businesses gain access to each other's markets.
The two officials also pledged to finalize and ratify the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement in 2018, creating a new momentum for economic, trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and France as well as the European Union.
Following the talks, President Macron held a state banquet for Vietnamese Party Leader Nguyen Phu Trong and the delegation. Both officials witnessed a signing ceremony of bilateral cooperative documents.
Trong is paying the three-day offficial visit to France, on occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Earlier, during the trip, Trong and Vietnamese business representatives also met with the chairman of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF) to discuss boosting economic ties to match the scale of the two countries' diplomatic relations.
Vietnam and France set up diplomatic ties on April 12, 1973. Over the past 45 years, especially since the establishment of the strategic partnership in 2013, the bilateral relations have developed remarkably.
France is an important European partner of Vietnam, with two-way trade in 2017 reaching US$4.6 billion, up 11.6% compared to 2016.
Last year, France ranked third among the European countries, and 16th among 125 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 513 valid projects worth US$2.8 billion, according to General Statistics Office of Vietnam.