Vietnam and France have witnessed positive developments in bilateral ties despite political changes in France, said Ambassador Duong Chi Dung as he reviewed the relations between the two countries in 2012.

The Ambassador to France told Vietnam News Agency in an interview that there have been many exchanges between the two nations at ministry, state agency, parliamentary and grassroots levels.

According to the ambassador, France’s President François Hollande has stressed the need to boost high-ranking delegation exchanges in a letter replying Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang’s message of congratulations. At a discussion on the sidelines of the 9 th Asia Europe Meeting Summit held recently in Laos , he and Vietnam ’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also agreed to positively push for the establishment of a strategic partnership in Vietnam–France relations.

Cooperation in economics, culture, education and training also increased. France maintains its commitment to Vietnam, with 340 million USD in ODA pledged for the country at a recent donors’ meeting. The figure increased France ’s ODA for Vietnam over the last 10 years to 2.15 billion USD.

Dung said there will be many important events to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic tie between the two nations in 2013. The activities will not only mark the important development period, but will also create a new step in the traditional comprehensive relationship between the two countries.

According to the ambassador, the connection between the two nations’ people is very important as Vietnam–France ties are based on profound people-to-people exchanges./.VNA