Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Huynh Ngoc Son has led a Vietnamese delegation to France to boost mutual understanding with the French parliament, helping strengthen the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

During his visit from Sept. 23-25, NA Vice Chairman Son held talks with first Vice President of the French NA Laurence Dumont, had working sessions with Defence Minister Jean Ives le Drian and Head of the parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Elisabeth Guigou.

At the meetings, Son affirmed that Vietnam consistently implements a foreign policy of independence, peace, cooperation and development, multilateral and diverse relations and active international integration.

Vietnam is also a reliable friend and partner and responsible member of international community, he added.

Minister Jean Ives le Drian said the visit by NA Vice Chairman Son will make positive contributions to develop the strategic partnership and dialogues between the two sides.

He asked Vietnam to support France’s participation in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM +) mechanism.

The two countries should draft specific measures on how to boost bilateral cooperation and present them at the upcoming France-Vietnam joint committee on defence, a discussion on lifting Vietnam-France relations to the strategic partnership level, and the celebration of the 40 th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Elisabeth Guigou spoke highly of the role played by the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group with over 100 members, headed by MP Christian Poncelet.

The Vietnamese delegation was also welcomed by President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group Christian Poncelet on Sept. 24, who said the friendship parliamentarian group as well as the Vietnamese and French people should cooperate in a new front, that is economy.

Vice Chairman Son said the Vietnam-France parliamentary relations have seen fine development, acting as a bridge to make the two countries’ ties more comprehensive.

He also spoke highly of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group’s activities and expressed hope that the French parliament will continue to support the Vietnamese NA in training and strengthen capacity in law making and supervising activities.-VNA