NA Standing Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) and Mayor of France’s Le Havre city Édouard Philippe (Photo: VNA) At a reception for Mayor of France’s Le Havre city ÉdouardPhilippe in Hanoi, Vice Chairman Man expressed his hope that through the visit, the Frenchdelegation will gain a better understanding of the culture, history, and people ofVietnam, and explore cooperation potential and opportunities between the twosides, especially in logistics and seaport services.
The legislator spoke highly of contributions by Philippe,in his capacity as Prime Minister of France for 2017-2020, and Le Havre’s Mayorand President of the Le Havre Seine Métropole urban community at present. He also spoke on promoting relations between Vietnam and France and the EU at large,especially after the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) came into force in2020.
Vietnam and France hold substantial potential tostep up collaboration across spheres, and raise their bilateral trade in thetime ahead, he said, noting that Vietnam attaches importance to the partnershipand comprehensive cooperation with the EU and its member countries.
Man called France a gateway for Vietnam to accessEurope, and emphasised the country’s important role as a founding member of theEU in helping Vietnam foster its cooperation with the bloc.
The year 2023 marks the 50th anniversaryof the Vietnam-France diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary oftheir strategic partnership.
Man said he hopes that the two sides will completethe contents reached by NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and President of the FrenchSenate Gérard Larcher this year, including the inauguration of the elevatedsection Hanoi’s metro line 3 and the organisation of a conference oncooperation between Vietnamese and French localities slated for April in Hanoi.
He called on the French city to continue assistingVietnamese educational institutions in seeking new partners and helpingVietnam improve the capacity of officials and public servants while enhancingcooperation in priority areas like renewable energy, climate change response, and digital transformation.
The legislator suggested Philippe promotecollaboration between Le Havre with Vietnamese localities and theVietnam-France relationship as well as organise delegation exchanges.
Man said he hopes that the two sides will completethe contents reached by NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and President of the FrenchSenate Gérard Larcher this year, including the inauguration of the elevatedsection Hanoi’s metro line 3 and the organisation of a conference oncooperation between Vietnamese and French localities slated for April in Hanoi.
He called on the French city to continue assistingVietnamese educational institutions in seeking new partners and helpingVietnam improve the capacity of officials and public servants while enhancingcooperation in priority areas like renewable energy, climate change response, and digital transformation.
The legislator suggested Philippe promotecollaboration between Le Havre with Vietnamese localities and theVietnam-France relationship as well as organise delegation exchanges.
At the reception (Photo: VNA) Man noted his hope that the French Senate will soonratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), continueimplementing the EVFTA and urge the EU to soon remove the “yellow card” onVietnam’s seafood exports.
For his part, Philippe expressed his impression on Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, saying the Vietnam-France relationshiphas been developing fruitfully and the two countries should work to deepen the partnership itin the time ahead.
The mayor said his visit aims to explore cooperationopportunities between Le Harve and Vietnamese localities, contributing toboosting the Vietnam-France relationship.
He affirmed France’s consistent and clear foreignpolicy in developing its cooperation with Vietnam, and that France backs thesigning of the EVFTA which will facilitate economic development as well aspolitical ties between the two sides.
The effective implementation of the agreement willbring pragmatic interests to people of both sides while helping to acceleratethe ratification of the EVIPA by parliaments of EU member countries in thecoming time, he said./.
VNA
