Int'l symposium highlights Vietnam-France ties

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Thiep said the event took place at a special time as the two countries are celebrating the 45^th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 5^th anniversary of their strategic partnership.

Duong Van Quang, former ambassador and head of the Vietnam delegation to UNESCO and Francophone, said Vietnam and France share important ties, as the two countries are linked through their histories, cultures, people-to-people exchanges, and futures, which is why the Party chief chose France as the destination for his visit.
French researchers and politicians appreciated Vietnam’s efforts over the past, saving particular praise for the country’s remarkable achievements during the renewal process.

Hèlène Luc, honorary president of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association, said the renewal policies of Vietnam have opened the door to the region and the world, from the first steps in joining ASEAN, to the signing of agreements with the EU, and becoming a member of Francophone. Vietnam has demonstrated its intention and capability to play an increasingly important role in EU-Asia relations.
The participants agreed that there have been successes in many fields of cooperation such as politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, and culture between the two countries. They spoke highly of their productive cooperation in recent times and pointed out advantages to be exploited and difficulties which need to be removed for the further development of bilateral ties.

Representatives of the Vietnamese community and Vietnam-France friendship organizations also proposed measures to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries, with a particular focus on culture and language.