Receiving French diplomat Jean Francois Girault, Mr Dung thanked France for providing official development assistance to Vietnam and said the two countries still have great potential for increasing cooperation in economics, trade, investment, education-training, science-technology and culture.

He said relevant Vietnamese agencies are working with French agencies to realize agreements signed during Prime Minister Francois Fillon’s visit to Vietnam last November.

The government leader expressed his belief that ambassador Girault will help foster relations between Vietnam and France during his new working term in Hanoi.

Ambassador Girault said the French government highly values the close bonds with Vietnam, particularly after Mr Dung’s visit in 2007. He affirmed that France wants to raise trade and economic ties with Vietnam on a par with their fine political relations.

French businesses are interested in investing in Vietnam, said the ambassador.

In another meeting with Polish ambassador Pavel Wojciechwski, Mr Dung recalled his recent visit to Poland and said the friendly relations between Vietnam and Poland are developing well. He asked the diplomat to make a greater effort to deepen bilateral cooperative ties in all areas. 

The Vietnamese government will create favourable conditions for the ambassador to fulfil his mission on the basis of mutual benefit and for peace and development, said Mr Dung.

He said he is looking forward to receiving the Polish Prime Minister during his upcoming visit to Hanoi.

Pavel Wojciechwski spoke highly of Vietnam’s development achievements, especially in weathering the global economic crisis. He vowed to work closely with relevant Vietnamese agencies to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.