Symposium discusses 50 years of Vietnam-France relations
Paris (VNA) - A
symposium entitled "France-Vietnam 1973-2023: From historical legacies to
the challenges of the 21st century", was organised on March 31 and April 1
by Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 University in collaboration with the Vietnamese Embassy
in France, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and 10 years of strategic partnership between the two countries.
At the event, which was held in virtual and face-to-face forms, experts agreed that France has always been one of
Vietnam's leading partners in Europe and the world as well. It was also among
the countries that played an important role in the international
integration of Vietnam. With the support of France, the seventh Francophone Summit in Hanoi in 1997 was the
first multilateral event that Vietnam had hosted with the participation of many
heads of state and government.
The signing of the Vietnam-France
strategic partnership in 2013 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of
diplomatic ties marked a milestone in the friendship between the two
countries, and provided a new impetus for bilateral cooperation and their joint efforts for
peace and sustainable development.
According to Professor Pierre Journoud from the Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 University, this symposium is an opportunity to review
important milestones in the relations between the two countries in all
areas.
He said discussions at the symposium looked at all aspects of the diplomatic ties between France and Vietnam from political and strategic to economic and cultural, adding that the event was also a chance to
identify weak points and obstacles in the bilateral relationship, so as to putting forth
solutions to them and build balanced these relations in the time to come.
Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toàn Thang said that the event's topics covered many fields ranging from economy, politics, culture, health and higher education to environment, reflecting the diversity of Vietnam-France cooperation
today.
The presentations and ideas
at the seminar appreciated the potential and strengths of the relationship between
the two countries, and also touched on the challenges that both parties must overcome,
he said, adding that it offered an opportunity to explore new orientations in their
relations in the times to come.
The diplomat said he hopes researchers, activists and local authorities, in particular those in Montpellier, will make further contributions to Vietnam-France
relations.
Within the framework of the
event, the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in France held a display of photos of Vietnam's economic and tourism potentials as well as the beauty of sea and islands of the country./.