Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said that time is now ripe for Vietnam and France to elevate their relations to a strategic partnership level.

Prime Minister Dung made the remarks while receiving Christian Poncelet, former Speaker of the French Senate and head of the France-Vietnam Parliamentary Group in Hanoi on September 12.

The Vietnamese Government leader went on to say that Vietnam will exert every effort together with France to enhance cooperation deeply and effectively, particularly in trade, investment and economics.

The Government of Vietnam will always create favourable conditions for French enterprises to do long-term business in the country, he added.

For his part, Poncelet said that his visit, which falls on the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic ties, aims to further tighten their friendship and cooperation.

He expressed his belief that the efforts made by both countries to raise their relations to a strategic partnership will benefit each country and their people.

He pledged that his group will do all it can to nurture the sound friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and France.-VNA