Paris (VNA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs BuiThanh Son met with President of the French Senate Gérard Larcher in Paris onJune 6, as part of his working visit to France.

The minister also had a working session with the French Senate’s Vice President Pierre Laurent, who is also former National Secretaryof the French Communist Party.

At those meetings, Son affirmed that Vietnam alwaysattaches importance to developing its comprehensive relations with France, through all the Government, legislature and party channels.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary ofthe bilateral diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of thebilateral strategic partnership, the minister suggested Vietnam and France continueboosting friendship exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas.

The host leaders emphasised the close ties between Vietnamese andFrench peoples, and expressed their belief that Son’s visit willcontribute to deepen the strategic partnership.

Larcher spoke highly of the success of the 12thVietnam-France decentralised cooperation conference, which was held in Hanoilast April, saying the event served as an important cooperation mechanism inorder to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the twocountries.

The French Senate President expressed his hope that the twosides will closely coordinate in implementing economic projects, and expanding theircollaboration in potential fields like green transition and climate change.

The French side took note of Vietnam’s proposal to createfavourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in France, helping them maintain their role as the bridge between the twocountries.

The two sides agreed to enhance parliamentary ties,especially through all-level delegation exchanges, and close coordination andsupport at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums, and to promote activities of friendship parliamentarians groups.

They will also work to forge economic cooperation – animportant pillar of the strategic partnership -, and continue to fully and effectively implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The host leaders also acknowledged Vietnam’s proposal on the early ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement(EVIPA) to maximise cooperation potential in investment, and on urging theEuropean Commission (EC) to soon remove its “yellow card” warning on Vietnameseseafood.

The two sides consented to further closely coordinate atmultilateral forums, especially the United Nations (UN), the Asia-EuropeMeeting (ASEM) and the Francophone Community, and promote the ASEAN-EU cooperation.

They shared the view on the importance of tightening thecooperation framework between Vietnam and France in coping with regional and globalissues, particularly in ensuring freedom, security and safety of navigation andaviation, maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, and settlingdisputes by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea./.