A Vietnamese diplomat has affirmed that Vietnam has made great contributions to the development of the French-speaking community since 1970s and now it is an active member with an important role in the organisation.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the International Francophone Day (March 20), Ambassador Duong Van Quang, the Vietnamese President’s envoy to the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF) in France, stressed that as a member of the OIF since the 1970s, Vietnam has actively took part in the organisation’s projects, especially those in agriculture, education and health care in Africa.

French language teaching in Vietnam also received due attention, he said, adding that the nation and the organisation had agreed to open bilingual classes prior to the seventh Francophone Summit in Hanoi in 1997.

To deepen its relations with the French-speaking community, the diplomat suggested the nation devise a special cooperation programme with Africa covering politics, diplomacy, economics, culture and language.

Also on the occasion, Director of the Francophone University Agency (AUF) Bernard Cerquilini said the agency will continue with its assistance to its branches in Vietnam.

The AUF opened its office in Hanoi in 1993 and by now has opened four branches in the country.-VNA