Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher (Photo: VGP) Paris (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister PhamMinh Chinh met President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher following theofficial welcome ceremony on November 3 (local time).
Larcher affirmed that France attaches importance toVietnam’s position and role, and wishes to deepen bilateral traditionalfriendship and strategic partnership in various areas.
The Senate of France said he wishes to further step up tieswith the Vietnamese legislature, he said.
PM Chinh, for his part, hailed the two legislatures’ importantcontributions to consolidating bilateral all-around ties, including promotinglocality-to-locality collaboration.
He wished that France would continue assisting Vietnam inimproving medical capacity, training culture management officers.
The PM proposed France consider increasing scholarships toVietnamese students, help Vietnam restore France-Vietnam cultural heritageslike Long Bien bridge or those bearing French impression in Vietnam.
On regional and global issues of shared concern, includingthe East Sea issue, they stressed that countries need to contribute tomaintaining peace, stability and prosperity; ensuring security, maritime andaviation safety and freedom; as well as peacefully settling disputes on thebasis of principles of international law, especially the 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Larcher agreed on joint work to effectively realise theEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). He also expressed his support for theearly ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) tooptimise the potential of economic-trade-investment cooperation between Vietnamand France, and EU member states.
He added that he is ready to consider pushing forward theEuropean Commission’s early removal of the “yellow card” warning on Vietnamesefisheries.
The Vietnamese PM thanked the French Government and Senate forcreating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to study and workin the country. He also wished to receive more valuable support from the FrenchGovernment, Senate and authorities.
The President of the French Senate spoke highly of theVietnamese community in France’s integration and success, contributing to closerbilateral ties.
On the occasion, Chinh conveyed National Assembly ChairmanVuong Dinh Hue’s invitation to Larcher to visit Vietnam./.
