Addressing the seminar on March 20, Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Chi Dung noted the event provides an excellent opportunity for participants to reflect on the important landmarks in the country’s history.
Vietnam has persevered through numerous difficulties and hard times over the past 150 years, since it was first conquered by France in 1858, in its quest for independence, he said.
He expressed hope that the participants will gain a deeper appreciation of the historical relationship between Vietnam and France and that this “fresh insight” will provide an impetus for them to make important contributions in the future.
Vietnam and France established the strategic partnership in September 2013.
Francois Weil, Director of the Academy of Paris, said the seminar is an important event in Vietnam Year in France 2014. Bilateral relationship between Vietnam and France has stood the test of time and become important heritage, laying the foundation for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation.
Danish Prince Henrik, who spent 8 years of his childhood in Hanoi in the 1930s, recalled his deep feelings for Vietnam and said he believes the country will make significant progress in the future thanks to its comprehensive renewal policy.
The gathering has brought together 60 scholars from Paris-Sorbonne, Paris-V-Descartes and Paris-Diderot Universities, Defence Academies of France, Washington-Seattle, Columbia, and Sacramento in the US, and Ottawa and Toronto in Canada, National University of Singapore, Keio University in Japan, and Vietnam National University.
