France-Vietnam friendship group affirms its continued support for Vietnam
VOV.VN - The France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Group of the Senate of France is ready to support the nation in strategic issues in the near future, said Stephanie Do, chairwoman of the Group
At a reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang who paid a courtesy visit on July 7, Do said she always maintains a close watch on the ongoing situation in the country and looks out for updated information on the relationship between the two legislative bodies, along with localities from both nations. She displayed her elation at the positive developments in terms of bilateral relations, especially in recent exchanges held between senior leaders of the two countries despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Do went on to express how impressed she has been with the Vietnamese response to COVID-19, safety measures put in place, and the recent achievements recorded in socio-economic development.
Applauding the contributions made by Do and the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Group of the Senate of France in developing multifaceted relations between the two countries, as well as the law-making bodies, Ambassador Thang thanked her and the group. Indeed, special thanks was given for lobbying the European Parliament to grant approval to the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), as well as organising activities to help politicians and French senators better understand current Vietnamese affairs.
Ambassador Thang said he hopes that Stephanie Do and the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Group will continue to support the nation by encouraging the parliaments of various EU member states to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). This is in addition to helping the nation deal with fisheries-related issues regarding mutual ties, respond to the impact of climate change, and ensure sustainable development.
The Ambassador affirmed that the country always places great importance on relations with strategic partners, including France.
The two sides have already agreed to push ahead with greater efforts to promote delegation exchange between the two parliaments and prepare for the 12th Vietnam-France Decentralized Cooperation Conference, an event scheduled to take place in Hanoi by the end of 2022.
They went on to express their belief that with the contribution of many factors, the bilateral relationship will continue to promote the existing momentum and achieve positive results moving towards the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and a decade of the Vietnam-France Strategic Partnership in 2023.
The France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Group of the Senate of France, consists of one president, 14 vice presidents, two secretaries, and 38 members, is currently one of the largest friendship groups within the French Senate.