French Prime Minister to pay official visit to Vietnam
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will pay an official visit to Vietnam from November 2-4 at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (Photo: AFP)
Hanoi (VNA) – French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will pay anofficial visit to Vietnam from November 2-4 at the invitation of Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in astatement.
Vietnam and France set updiplomatic ties on April 12, 1973. Overcoming ups and downs in history, over the past 45years, especially since the establishmentof the strategic partnership in 2013, Vietnam-France relations have developed well.
In the pastyears, both sides have maintained the exchange of high-level delegations. Particularly,a visit to France by General Secretary of the Communist Party of VietnamCentral Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in March 2018 has created a strong drivingforce for the development of bilateral ties in the fields of politics, economy,culture, education, healthcare and national defence.
During thevisit, made at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, the two sides signed a series of important cooperation documents on defence, justice, spacetechnology, intellectual property, climate change response and tourism, alongwith economic contracts worth tens of billions of USD.
Bilateral trade between Vietnam and France have seen positive growth, with Vietnam having enjoyed continuous trade surplussince 2010, reported the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
In 2017, the two-way trade value exceeded 4.6 billion USD, up 11.6 percentfrom 2016. The figure included 3.3 billionUSD worth of Vietnamese exports to France and 1.3 billion USD worth of imports from the European country, bothincreasing by over 11 percent year on year.
France isan important European partner of Vietnam. It also respects Vietnam’s stature and contributions to peace, stability anddevelopment in the region and the world.
Vietnam’s membership of the ASEAN Economic Community and many free tradeagreements, including the Comprehensive andProgressive Agreement for Trans-PacificPartnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), expected to take effect in the near future,will bring new cooperation chances forboth countries.-VNA
Vietnamese Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich and his French counterpart Florence Parly signed a joint vision statement on defence cooperation for 2018-2028 at their talks in Paris on September 17 as part of the former’s ongoing visit to France.
The year 2018 holds special significance for Vietnam – France relations, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Thiep said during a ceremony in Paris on September 19 marking the 73rd anniversary of National Day of Vietnam (September 2).
A fine art exhibition highlighting Vietnam – France friendship opened in Ho Chi Minh on October 15 by the HCM City’s Union of Friendship Oganisations (HUFO) and the Vietnam-France Friendship Association.
Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Le Thanh Liem hosted a reception on October 18 for Max Vincent, Vice President of France’s Lyon, during which they signed a cooperation agreement for 2018-2020 between the two sides.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (Photo: AFP) 
