Forum on Francophone economic cooperation underway
Opening the
event, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc further said the community,
with 77 member countries and governments and a combined population of
over 800 million, is an important group in dealing with international
issues, including economics.
Economic cooperation was among the
top priorities that Francophonie leaders stated in the community’s
charter, approved in Hanoi in 1997.
Anissa Barrak, Regional
Director for Asia and the Pacific of the International Organisation of
the Francophonie, reviewed the growing partnership within the community
in such fields as teaching the French language, enhancing scientific
research and judicial capacity, creating jobs for the youth, and
cooperation among regional businesses.
She also described ASEAN, with Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand being Francophonie members, as an active economic region.
The
official expressed her hope that the two-day forum will raise
suggestions for the building of a Francophonie economic strategy and the
economic cooperation within the community as well.
The event
drew representatives of embassies and international organisations in
Vietnam, the network of structures and institutions in charge of
Francophone in Asia-Pacific, and businesses and scholars-VNA