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French PM’s visit deepens Vietnam-France strategic partnership

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe’s official visit to Vietnam from November 2-4 has boosted political and diplomatic ties, expanded economic and trade cooperation, and strengthened cooperation in defense and security, education and training, science and technology, and energy. 
During his stay in Vietnam, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe held talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and paid a courtesy visit to Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong.

The French leader visited the Presidential Palace Relic Site and attended a ceremony to inaugurate a new facility of France’s International School Alexandre Yersin in Hanoi.

He also visited the A1 Hill relic site and laid a wreath at the Dien Bien Phu martyrs’ cemetery in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien, and attended ceremonies to inaugurate the French medical center and open the France-Vietnam technological business forum in HCM City.

In his meeting with Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong, PM Edouard Philippe expressed his pleasure to see the Vietnamese leader again and congratulated Trong on his election as State President.

PM Philippe conveyed that he was glad to be able to visit Vietnam - an important partner to his country in Asia - especially as the year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and the 5th year of their strategic partnership.

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong highly appreciated the French Prime Minister’s visit to Vietnam; underscored the special meaning of the year 2018 with two mutual high-level visits and various activities to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and the 5th year of their strategic partnership.

The Party and State leader expressed his pleasure at the positive development of bilateral relations between Vietnam and France in recent years, while applauding the two sides’ efforts to promote and maintain their strategic partnership through various mechanisms and cooperation forms. He said that political trust and comprehensive cooperation across various fields between the two countries are not only based on objective needs, but also in accordance with the basic interests of the two countries.

The Vietnamese leader affirmed that Vietnam always considers France as a leading partner in Europe and in the world. He hoped the two sides will actively coordinate to realize the recently signed agreements, make joint efforts to maintain the positive momentum of the bilateral relations, and closely coordinate at multilateral forums, thus contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.



Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosts a welcoming ceremony 
for his French counterpart Edouard Philippe in Hanoi. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong
has a reception for French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA


The two Prime Ministers pose with Hanoi children at the welcoming ceremony. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds talks with his French counterpart Edouard Philippe. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


The two Prime Ministers visit the fish pond inside Ho Chi Minh Presidential Palace Historical Site.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan receives the French guest. Photo: Trong Duc/VNA


Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan
receives French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe in HCM city. Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA


The French Prime Minister (second from left) has a meeting with Vietnamese start-uppers. Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA


The two Prime Ministers witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding between
the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council and the Vietnamese Fatherland Front Central Committee.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


They witness the signing of an MoU between Vietnamese carrier Vietjet Air and CFM International.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Within the framework of the visit, the French Prime Minister was received by his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

During their talks, the two Prime Ministers evaluated the positive development of multifaceted cooperation and affirmed their determination to deepen the Vietnam-France strategic partnership for shared benefit.

The two sides agreed to increase delegation exchanges at all levels, especially at the high level, while promoting the role of coordination and direction mechanisms for bilateral cooperation, and forging stronger partnerships in politics, economy, defense, science and technology, culture, and education and training.

The two leaders underscored that economic collaboration continues to be a priority in bilateral ties, stressing the need to speed up major joint projects and foster the relationship between Vietnam and the European Union.

PM Edouard Philippe stated that France supports the early signing and ratification of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EU, underlining France’s commitment to maintaining development cooperation with Vietnam in the future.
Both sides concurred to promote collaboration in building e-government and modernizing state administrative governance, which is a new and promising cooperation area.

They agreed to create favorable conditions for businesses of both sides to enhance their economic and investment partnership in areas of France’s strength and Vietnam’s demand such as infrastructure, energy, aviation and aerospace, health care, science and technology, communications, climate change response, and smart cities.


The French leader attends the inauguration ceremony of Alexander Yersin international school
in Long Bien district, Hanoi. Photo: Van Diep/VNA


Students of Alexander Yersin international school present gifts to the French Prime Minister. Photo: Van Diep/VNA


 PM Edouard Philippe visits A1 Hill relic site in Dien Bien province. Photo: VNA


Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung and French Prime Minister
visit the walking street in Hoan Kiem Lake area. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA


The French leader friendly talks with visitors on the walking street. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA


He also visits Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (the Temple of Literature). Photo: Van Diep/VNA
 

On the occasion, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements between the two countries in various areas, including training, e-government development, healthcare, climate change response, environmental protection, urban management, energy and aviation.

France is the fifth largest European trade partner of Vietnam after Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Italy. In 2017, two-way trade hit 4.6 billion US dollars, up 11.6% from 2016. The figure included 3.3 billion US dollars worth of Vietnamese exports to France and 1.27 billion US dollars worth of imports from the European country. Vietnam exported to France footwear, garments and textiles, ceramics, rattan and bamboo products, seafood, machinery and electronic parts while importing equipment, industrial machines, pharmaceutical and agricultural products, food, and cosmetics. Bilateral trade in the first six months of this year reached 2.3 billion US dollars. 
By VNA/VNP

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