Addressing theevent, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem expressed hispleasure at the continuous development of the International FrancophoneOrganisation (OIF) over the past 40 years with its steadily rising membership,now totalling 70 countries.
He also praised the OIF’s activities inpolitics, economics, culture and education and its increasing role and positionon important issues relating to world peace, security, sustainable developmentand cultural diversity.
Deputy PM Khiem stated that Vietnam alwaysattaches importance to relations with the OIF and has made active contributionsto the development of the organisation. He stressed that with its achievementsin national renewal over the past 20 years, Vietnam is ready to shareexperiences in national development with other member countries, especially inthe fields of its strengths like food security.
Patrice Burel, Directorof the Regional Bureau of Asia Pacific (BRAP) in Hanoi , under the OIF, praisedclose cooperation between the organisation and Vietnam , one of its firstmembers, and affirmed that the OIF will continue to support the teaching of theFrench language in Vietnam .
On this occasion, Phan Thanh Binh, Directorof the Ho Chi Minh City National University was presented with an insignia forhis contributions to French teaching by the community of Embassies anddelegation of Francophone countries and the OIF in Hanoi./.