A “Vietnam Week” is taking place in French province of Seine-Saint-Denis as part of activities to celebrate the 2014 Vietnam Year in France.

The event, the first of its kind hosted by the locality, is a good chance to promote the Vietnamese culture and strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Addressing the opening ceremony on June 2, Jean-Charles Negre, Vice President of the Provincial Council, underscored the importance of the event, which is one of many arranged to mark the 40 th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

He highly praised the effectiveness of the projects invested by Seine-Saint-Denis in Vietnam ’s Hai Duong province, which were launched in 2006 in the realms of culture, health care, planning, education and training.

Mentioning China’s illegal placement of its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters, Negre criticised the provocative act, stressing that no country can place itself higher than others.

“Hegemonism in any form is unacceptable,” he said, adding that China ’s activities in the East Sea worried the international community and must be strongly condemned.

A political solution through dialogue must be conducted at once on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, he added.

Meanwhile, Ambassador to France Duong Chi Dung praised the province’s idea to hold the event, which he described as a great chance for participants to discover more about Vietnam as well as the Vietnam-France friendship.

At the ceremony, a film titled “Vietnam – Secret negotiations” by French director Daniel Roussel was screened, together with an exhibition on the Vietnam-France friendship, showcasing many photos and formerly classified wartime documents.

Within the event’s framework, a number of activities will also be organised in various cities in the province.-VNA