The visit to Vietnam by French Prime Minister Francois Fillon will give new impetus to boosting comprehensive cooperation, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said on Nov. 12.

During his talks with his French counterpart, who began an official two-day visit on Nov. 12, PM Dung affirmed that France is a special partner of Vietnam and the government always gives high priority to its ties with the European country.

The Vietnamese leader said Vietnam hopes that France will maintain its historical and cultural impact in Vietnam and promote its presence in economics, trade and investment in the country.

With its increasing role in the Southeast Asia and as an important member of ASEAN, Vietnam is willing to serve as a bridge between France and the region, and also wishes France to serve as a gateway for the country to enter into Europe , the PM said.

French PM F. Fillon expressed his delight at visiting Vietnam for the first time and his admiration for the achievements the country has made during its renovation and integration process, particularly its socio-political stability and high economic growth even in the context of the global economic crisis.

He said his country attaches importance to boosting its comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, particularly in sustainable development, by carrying out important projects in various fields.

He praised Vietnam ’s role in Asia and the world, and said the two countries would further coordination and cooperate at the United Nations, on the UN Security Council, in the Asia-Europe Economic Meeting, in ASEAN-EU relations and within the Francophone community.

He expressed his confidence that Vietnam would fulfil its mission as the ASEAN chairman in 2010.

The two PMs agreed to beef up economic-trade-investment ties to match their fine political ties as well as potentials of the two countries.

They pledged to provide favourable conditions for their businesses to invest and operate in the other’s territory, particularly in infrastructure, energy, airspace, telecommunications, science-technology, environmental protection and response to climate change.

To start with, the two countries will coordinate in a conference on climate change in Copenhagen .

PM Dung praised the two countries’ cooperation in education and training, especially the establishment of the Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

He asked France to actively support Vietnam in stopping the EU’s anti-dumping taxes levied on Vietnam’s exported leather-capped shoes.

He said he was delighted at the cultural exchange activities between the two countries and valued France’s participation in organising the Hue Festival and the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi in 2010.

The two leaders also agreed to organise a Vietnam Year in France and a France Year in Vietnam in the coming time.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of agreements on cooperation in building the Hanoi University of Sciences and Technology, peaceful use of nuclear energy, and preservation of social security and order.

Agreements on funding for small-sized satellites for observation of natural resources, environment and fishing ships, additional loans for the Nhon-Hanoi Railway Station urban railway project, the people’s credit funds, and the Huoi Quang Hydro-electric Power Plant, totalling 260 million EUR, were also signed on the day.

On the occasion, Vietnam Airlines and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) signed a memorandum of understanding on the development of aviation industry in Vietnam and a deal on the purchase of airplanes./.