NA Chairman holds talks with French Senate President

Viet Nam wants to cement and deepen its strategic partnership with France via party, parliament and government channels as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges, said top Vietnamese legislator.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue made the above statement during his meeting with President of the French Senate Gérard Larcher in Ha Noi on December 8.

At their meeting, the two sides discussed ways to strengthen coordination in such areas as politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, investment, culture, social affairs, and national defense-security, while sharing legislative experience.

Senate President Larcher affirmed that Viet Nam plays an important role in France’s foreign policy.

Chairman Vuong hoped that the two sides would enhance the sharing of experience among subordinate agencies, as well as friendship, female and young parliamentarians’ groups.

The pair shared the view that relations between the Vietnamese legislative body and the French Senate have reaped important results in line with a cooperation agreement signed in 2003.

They agreed to continue exchanging views to update and revise the agreement in the new context.

Chairman Vuong hoped that both the French Senate and the Vietnamese legislature will send delegates to the Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians to be hosted by Viet Nam.

The French Senate President said that France stands ready to share legislative experience with Viet Nam, and wished that both sides would enhance locality-to-locality cooperation. At present, there are 55 joint projects between 20 French and over 30 Vietnamese cities and provinces.

Both sides agreed the two countries’ parliamentary agencies should hold activities on the occasion of a conference on cooperation between French and Vietnamese localities in Ha Noi next year, with lawmakers and deputies of local People’s Councils among the expected participants.

On the occasion, the top Vietnamese legislator suggested the French Senate early approve the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to draw more European investments, including those from France to Viet Nam.

On education-training cooperation, the two leaders stressed the need to increase French scholarships for Vietnamese students as the number of that scholarship remains low.

Agreeing with the Vietnamese NA Chairman’s proposal to work closely together on regional and global issues and at multilateral forums, including the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Larcher proposed establishing a consultation mechanism before attending multilateral cooperation forums to improve coordination efficiency.

The two leaders also highlighted the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, and settling disputes by peaceful measures in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The same day, French Senate President Gérard Larcher attended a ceremony in Ha Noi to inaugurate the new headquarters of the French Institute in Viet Nam, as part of his ongoing official visit to the Southeast Asian country.

The event marks a new development of the institute after 18-year operation in Viet Nam, and it is part of events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2023.

The visit of the French Senate President from December 8-9, is the first between the two countries’ legislative leaders after the COVID-19 pandemic was controlled.

The visit is expected to contribute to consolidating and deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as the friendship and cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the French Parliament./.