PM meets President of French Senate

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher (Photo: VGP)

Paris (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher following the official welcome ceremony on November 3 (local time).

Larcher affirmed that France attaches importance to Vietnam’s position and role, and wishes to deepen bilateral traditional friendship and strategic partnership in various areas.

The Senate of France said he wishes to further step up ties with the Vietnamese legislature, he said.

PM Chinh, for his part, hailed the two legislatures’ important contributions to consolidating bilateral all-around ties, including promoting locality-to-locality collaboration.

He wished that France would continue assisting Vietnam in improving medical capacity, training culture management officers.

The PM proposed France consider increasing scholarships to Vietnamese students, help Vietnam restore France-Vietnam cultural heritages like Long Bien bridge or those bearing French impression in Vietnam.

On regional and global issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue, they stressed that countries need to contribute to maintaining peace, stability and prosperity; ensuring security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom; as well as peacefully settling disputes on the basis of principles of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Larcher agreed on joint work to effectively realise the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). He also expressed his support for the early ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to optimise the potential of economic-trade-investment cooperation between Vietnam and France, and EU member states.

He added that he is ready to consider pushing forward the European Commission’s early removal of the “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese fisheries.

The Vietnamese PM thanked the French Government and Senate for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to study and work in the country. He also wished to receive more valuable support from the French Government, Senate and authorities.

The President of the French Senate spoke highly of the Vietnamese community in France’s integration and success, contributing to closer bilateral ties.

On the occasion, Chinh conveyed National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s invitation to Larcher to visit Vietnam./.