Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister of ForeignAffairs Bui Thanh Son met bilaterally with French Minister for Europe andForeign Affairs Catherine Colonna and Foreign Minister of Papua New Guinea JustinTkatchenko in Bangkok on November 18, on the occasion of the ongoing APECEconomic Leaders’ Week 2022.
Meeting French MinisterCatherine Colonna, Son said since the upgrade of bilateral ties to strategic partnershipnearly a decade ago, Vietnam and France have seen their ties growing in variousareas.
Hailing the developments of bilateralcultural-education and health cooperation over the past years, he thanked theFrench Government and people for their valuable support for Vietnam duringCOVID-19 pandemic.
He suggested the twocountries discuss and effectively adopt measures to deepen their effective collaborationpost pandemic, facilitate all-level visits, especially during next year when the twocountries celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the10th anniversary of strategic partnership.
Describing economiccooperation as an important pillar of bilateral strategic partnership, Sonproposed France soon approve the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement(EVIPA) to fully tap the two countries’ potential.
The FM spoke highly ofFrance’s role and voice in the international arena as well as the two countries' coordination atregion and global forums like the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEAN-EU framework, andthe Francophone Community.
Colonna, for her part, highlyvalued Vietnam’s role and position in Indo-Pacific and wished to work moreclosely with Vietnam in the near future amid global uncertainties.
She affirmed that Frenchfirms are interested in investing in Vietnam in fields of their strength suchas green and digital technology, and clean energy.
The minister wished to visitVietnam soon to discuss specific measures to boost bilateral ties in all areas,especially economy-trade, culture, defence, education, tourism, and science-technology.
Talking with Minister Justin Tkatchenko,Son asserted that Vietnam is ready to share socio-economic development experiencewith Papua New Guinea and reinforce coordination in fields of shared concern.
Tkatchenko said Papua NewGuinea considers ties with Vietnam strategic in the coming time and wishes tosoon open a representative diplomatic agency in the Southeast Asian nation toenhance relations, particularly in economy-trade-investment, farm produce processing,aquaculture, mining, liquefied natural gas and locality-to-localitycooperation.
He wished to acquire Vietnam’sexperience in industrialisation and modernisation, and attract more Vietnam investors to his country.
Both sides agreed to step upall-level visits as well as trade and investment promotion activities, and implementthe Memorandum of Understanding on fisheries cooperation, including establishinga Joint Technical Committee on Fisheries Cooperation, issuing more mechanismsand signing several deals to lay legal foundation for collaboration such asinvestment promotion and protection, double taxation avoidance, oil and gas.
They pledged to continue strengtheningcooperation within the framework of the United Nations, APEC and regional andinternational forums.
Papua New Guinea supports ASEAN's and Vietnam’sstance and efforts in the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peacefulmeans in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on theLaw of the Sea, Tkatchenko said.
Son affirmed that Vietnam stands ready toserve as a bridge promoting ties between Papua New Guinea and ASEAN. He alsowished Papua New Guinea would cultivate ties between Vietnam and Pacific islandnations./.
