Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A Vietnam – France high-leveleconomic dialogue took place in Hanoi on January 24 under the chair of DeputyMinister of Planning and Investment Nguyen The Phuong and French Minister ofState Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.
At the event, Phuong said France is Vietnam’s top partner inEU, with Vietnamese and French businesses gaining footholds in each other’smarkets, particularly concerning agricultural products.
Vietnam is willing to facilitate the import of French goodsand work with the EU country in handling trade barriers, Phuong stated.
Highlighting the importance of bilateral cooperation todate, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne pointed to new investment and business opportunitiesto be brought about when the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement comes into force.
He said France wants to share experience with Vietnamesepartners in the sectors of transport, environment food, and banking.
The dialogue reviewed a number of French projects inVietnam, including the Hanoi urban railway No. 3, and put forth cooperativeorientations for the future.
The sides encouraged their business community to study thefeasibility of investment in areas that see high demand in Vietnam, such asclimate change adaptation, agricultural-rural development, and sustainable useof natural resources, smart city building, and oil refinery.
In 2017, bilateral trade between Vietnam and France reached5.6 billion USD, up 11.6 percent from 2016, with Vietnam recording a tradesurplus. In the past 10 years, France has sponsored many ODA projects, withtotal disbursed capital amounting to about 2 billion EUR.-VNA
VNA
