Minister of Defence Ngo Xuan Lich (R) and French Ambassador to Vietnam Bertrand Lortholary(Photo: tienphong.vn)

General Lich highlighted the consolidated defence relations between the two countries in the past years.

He said that based on the defence cooperation agreement inked in November, 2009, a line-up of sectors have been carried out successfully like training, military medicine and experience exchanges for UN peacekeeping operations.

The two countries boast huge potential for defence cooperation, he said, adding that both sides need to enhance collaboration efficiency in various fields and soon ink a defence cooperation framework to foster Vietnam-France strategic partnership.

He expressed his hope that in his role, Ambassador Bertrand Lortholary will make sizable contributions to the bilateral relations.

For his part, the French ambassador said that France always wants to promote defence relations with Vietnam and believed that the two countries will have rosy achievements in the field.

He also recommended both sides enlarge new cooperation areas.