Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made the statement at a celebration to mark International Francophone Day (March 20) in Hanoi on March 18.

He said this was a chance for Vietnam to show its desire to consolidate and strengthen its commitments and cooperation with the International Francophone Organisation (OIF).

Vietnam supports the message by OIF Secretary General, stressing the need to give priority to the youth and promote their dynamism and creativity for the organisation’s common goals.

Patrice Burel, Director of OIF’s Regional Bureau of the Asia Pacific, acknowledged and spoke highly of Vietnam’s contributions to the Francophone Community, especially the “Francophone space” programme by the Vietnam News Agency’s French-language newspaper Le Courier du Vietnam, which is scheduled to be broadcast on VNA’s television channel, Vnews, on March 20, 2011.

On this occasion, an insignia to honour Vietnamese people with a strong attachment to the French language was conferred on Trinh Ngoc Thai, Vice President of the Vietnam-France Friendship Association and former ambassador to France, and Prof. Huynh Hue Tue, head of Bac Ha University.

Activities to mark International Francophone Day 2011 in Vietnam will last from mid-March to early April.