During his stay in Vietnam, French President Francois Hollande held talks with State President Tran Dai Quang; had meetings with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; and met with the Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee.

The French President also talked to students of Hanoi National University; visited the Hanoi Old Quarter, the Ho Chi Minh City’s Heart Hospital and met with French enterprises in Vietnam.


The welcoming ceremony for French President Francois Hollande is held solemnly at the Presidential Palace. Photo: Nhan Sang/VNA

 State President Tran Dai Quang and President Francois Hollande hold talks. Photo: Nhan Sang/VNA

The two countries' leaders witnenss the signing of cooperative documents. Photo: Nhan Sang/VNA

At the meetings, the leaders of the two nations were determined to deeply develop the Vietnam – France Strategic Partnership in all fields.

The two sides issued a joint statement, underlining that economic cooperation remains a priority in bilateral ties and the countries will continue creating a favourable environment for their enterprises to cooperate, invest and do business. They also agreed to strengthen the signing and ratification of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The two nations hoped to expand cooperation in security and safety in navigation and aviation. They stressed that they will continue to collaborate and share experiences in fighting human trafficking, illegal migration, high-tech crime, drug, and money laundering.
The leaders reached a consensus on upcoming cooperation in aspects of climate change adaptation, the environment, energy, training, urban infrastructure and sustainable agriculture; speeding up the implementation of preferential projects, especially urban railway No.3 in Hanoi.


Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong receives French President Francois Hollande. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with French President Francois Hollande. Photo: An Dang/VNA


 National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets with French President Francois Hollande. Photo: Trong Duc/VNA

The two sides also affirmed the significance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom in navigation and aviation and asserted the importance of resolving disputes by peaceful measures, without using force or threatening to use force, on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Regarding The Hague tribunal’s ruling on July 12, 2016, both sides affirmed the law-abiding principle at seas and oceans. They underlined the importance of fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), while supporting efforts to reach a Code of Conduct (COC) in the waters.

State President Tran Dai Quang and his French counterpart Francois Hollande witnessed the signing ceremony of many cooperation agreements between the two nations, including a contract of Vietnam’s air carriers buying 40 Airbus planes in a deal worth 6.5 billion dollars.

French President Francois Hollande takes a stroll and talks to Hanoians and foreign tourists in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Photo: Pham Kien/VNA

French President Francois Hollande attends the France – Vietnam Business Forum. Photo: The Anh/VNA


The French President meets with young software entrepreneurs at  Linkbynet Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thanh Vu/VNA


 French President Francois Hollande visits the Ho Chi Minh City’s Heart Hospital. Photo: Thanh Vu/VNA

By VNA/VNP