“The partnership is not only a destination, but also a new start with many opportunities and prosperity for cooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally,” PM Dung said.

In the spirit, the Prime Minister proposed that the French side facilitate the entry of Viet Nam’s goods into France and encourage credit organisations to take part in banking system restructuring and electricity, electronics, telecoms and renewable energy projects in Viet Nam.

He suggested France give ODA priority to urban technical infrastructure development, clean energy, vocational training, agricultural production, bio-diversity preservation and environmental protection projects.

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault welcomed PM Dung’s visit to France, saying that this is an important milestone in promoting friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

He spoke highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic development achievements, particularly efforts to surmount the economic crisis.

The French Prime Minister hailed Viet Nam’s increasing position in the international arena, especially the key role in the ASEAN Community-building process. He affirmed his wish to boost cooperation in fields with Viet Nam.

Both prime ministers agreed to strengthen contacts and exchange of high-level delegations through bilateral visits or meetings on the sidelines of international conferences in the time to come.

They also agreed to boost cooperation in defence-security, economics-trade-investment, science-technology, and education and training

Both sides reached consensus on enhancing cooperation and support for each other in participating in international organisations.

The French side pledged continued support to Viet Nam’s effort in promoting comprehensive cooperation with the European Union, particularly on economics and trade.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the French side supported Viet Nam’s consistent stance of solving disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures, based on respect for international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, strictly implementing the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and building the Code of the Conduct in the East Sea (COC) as early as possible.

After the talks, the two prime ministers signed a joint statement on the strategic partnership between Viet Nam and France and witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents between the two countries.

Then, PMs Dung and Jean-Marc Ayrault met the press to announce their talks’ results. The Vietnamese Prime Minister stressed that Viet Nam always appreciates France ’s role and position in Europe and the world and attaches importance to developing ties with the European country.

The two countries’ leaders showed their strong resolve and political will to deepen the bilateral relations, meeting the two peoples’ aspiration, PM Dung said.

The French PM said both sides have reached consensus on the need to continue create favourable conditions for their businesspeople and investors to connect and seek partners and increase their presence in each country.