The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and theVietnam-France Friendship Association (VFFA) held a ceremony in Hanoi onApril 10 to mark the 40th anniversary of Vietnam–France diplomaticties.
The event saw the presence of former VicePresident Nguyen Thi Binh, VUFO’s Chairman Vu Xuan Hong, FrenchAmbassador to Vietnam Jean Noel Poirier, among others.
VFFA Chairman Nguyen Huy Quang reviewed the history of the friendshipand cooperation relations between the two countries over the fourdecades, adding that France is the first European country to extendsupport to Vietnam the 1990s when the country took the first steps toresume relations with the international community and started the causeof “doi moi” (renewal).
The relations betweenthe two countries have been unceasingly broadened and developed in allfields, and become an example of relation between a leading developedcountry and a developing one, he said, noting that France is now theleading European partner of Vietnam with bilateral trade reaching 3.2billion USD last year and 3.14 billion USD of French investment inVietnam. The two countries are implementing a series of bilateralcooperation programmes in infrastructure, energy, transport andaviation, while French cultural centres have opened in many cities andprovinces in Vietnam.
Quang also said theVietnamese people are deeply moved at the French people’s support inpublicising issues relating to the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxinon the people and environment in Vietnam and garnering internationalassistance in overcoming such consequences.
Ambassador Poirier said the France Year in Vietnam was officiallykicked off on April 9 to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic tiesbetween the two countries. The programme comprises an array of events atall areas, extending until 2014 in both Vietnam and France, hesaid.
The VFFA Chairman and the French Ambassadorshared their hope and belief that the friendly ties between the twocountries will ever develop in the interest of the two peoples and forprosperity and peace in the region and the world.-VNA
The event saw the presence of former VicePresident Nguyen Thi Binh, VUFO’s Chairman Vu Xuan Hong, FrenchAmbassador to Vietnam Jean Noel Poirier, among others.
VFFA Chairman Nguyen Huy Quang reviewed the history of the friendshipand cooperation relations between the two countries over the fourdecades, adding that France is the first European country to extendsupport to Vietnam the 1990s when the country took the first steps toresume relations with the international community and started the causeof “doi moi” (renewal).
The relations betweenthe two countries have been unceasingly broadened and developed in allfields, and become an example of relation between a leading developedcountry and a developing one, he said, noting that France is now theleading European partner of Vietnam with bilateral trade reaching 3.2billion USD last year and 3.14 billion USD of French investment inVietnam. The two countries are implementing a series of bilateralcooperation programmes in infrastructure, energy, transport andaviation, while French cultural centres have opened in many cities andprovinces in Vietnam.
Quang also said theVietnamese people are deeply moved at the French people’s support inpublicising issues relating to the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxinon the people and environment in Vietnam and garnering internationalassistance in overcoming such consequences.
Ambassador Poirier said the France Year in Vietnam was officiallykicked off on April 9 to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic tiesbetween the two countries. The programme comprises an array of events atall areas, extending until 2014 in both Vietnam and France, hesaid.
The VFFA Chairman and the French Ambassadorshared their hope and belief that the friendly ties between the twocountries will ever develop in the interest of the two peoples and forprosperity and peace in the region and the world.-VNA
