(VNA) - France Year in Vietnam was launched at a ceremony in Hanoi on Tuesday with the attendance of Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh and visiting French Minister of Foreign Trade Nicole Bricq.

France Year in Vietnam kicks off  (Source: anneefrancevietnam.com)

Addressing the ceremony, Minister Bricq highlighted the friendly and trusting relationship between the two countries, saying France hopes to continue developing cooperation with Vietnam based on the existing solid ground. Minister Hoang Tuan Anh said the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 40 years ago marked a milestone and opened up a new page in the relationship between the two countries. The minister said Vietnam will do its utmost, together with France, to successfully organise the Vietnam-France/France-Vietnam Year in 2013 and 2014.