The centres will provide Vietnamese students with tertiary education taught in French and designed by French universities, said French Ambassador to Vietnam Francois Blarel at a press briefing in Hanoi on January 19. He highlighted the project as a manifestation of the close educational cooperation between France and Vietnam.

Mr Blarel said in the 2006-2010 period, bilateral cooperation will focus on three preferential areas, including production and infrastructure development and food security improvement. He added that France would also support Vietnam in AIDS prevention and control, human resources development, scientific research, cultural exchanges and legislative reform.