Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (4th from R) and President of the French Senate Gérard Larcher (4th from L) at their meeting in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

 Viet Nam has constantly worked to deepen its traditional friendship, trust and strategic partnership with France, he noted. 

 Expressing his delight at the strong development of the Viet Nam-France strategic partnership across fields, the PM affirmed that France is a leading trade, investment, and ODA partner of Viet Nam in Europe. He hoped the sides further step up their all-level delegation exchange and cooperation, particularly in economy, commerce, and investment.

 He suggested that the two sides focus on fully and effectively implementing the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to take advantage of the great opportunities it offers.

 He wished France to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese exports, especially agricultural and aquatic products, to access the French market; and encouraged French firms to continue investing in Viet Nam in such areas they have strengths as digital and green transformation, and renewable energy.

 The government leader said Viet Nam hopes that France will soon complete the ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in order to create a driving force for promoting investment relations between the nations on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, hence favourable conditions for French enterprises to invest and do business in Viet Nam.

 He also requested that France support Viet Nam in having the EC’s yellow-card warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing soon removed.

 PM Chinh proposed that the French side consider increasing the number of scholarships for Vietnamese students; and facilitating student and researcher exchange. He also called for stronger cultural cooperation and more support from France for Viet Nam's restoration, maintenance, and preservation of local French cultural relics and UNESCO-recognised heritage.

 The PM also asked his guest to back collaboration between Vietnamese and French localities in areas of France’s strength like clean water, environment, and afforestation.

 He hoped the French authorities will further create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese expatriate community, whose population amounts to some 300,000.

 Agreeing with Chinh’s proposals, Larcher stated that Viet Nam plays a very important role in France's foreign policy and France will continue to do its best to promote the bilateral friendship and cooperation toward practical outcome and effectiveness.

 Emphasising that economic, trade and investment collaboration is always a bright spot in the Viet Nam-France ties, the Senate President thanked the Vietnamese Government's goodwill for always assisting and facilitating French businesses to seek opportunities and expand their operations in Viet Nam for mutual benefits.

 Thanking Viet Nam for supporting his country’s cooperation with ASEAN countries, Larcher affirmed that France will take practical actions to aid Viet Nam in stepping up joint works with the EU in economy, trade and investment, among others.

 France wishes to further team up with Viet Nam in such areas as agriculture, food security, transportation, and culture, education-training, and preservation and restoration of architectural and cultural works, he added.

 He pledged to hold discussions with leaders of French relevant agencies with regard to the EVIPA and yellow card issues.

 Saying it is necessary to ensure freedom, security and safety of navigation and aviation, and to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, the two leaders affirmed the settlement of disputes must be done by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.