(VOVworld)-Vietnam and France will hold many activities to mark their 40^th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France, Duong Chi Dung

Vietnamese Ambassador to France, Duong Chi Dung, told VOV correspondent in Paris that the year will cover a variety of political, trade, investment and cultural events until September 2014:“Both will prioritize high level political discussion to facilitate cooperation in defense, trade, science and technology through joint committees. The Vietnam France Year has been warmly responded by partners at all levels though trade promotion, exhibition and historical, cultural and performance exchanges.”

During their meeting at the ASEM summit in Laos this year, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and French President Francois Holland agreed to promote bilateral strategic partnership. France remains an important ODA donor for Vietnam, taking the lead in the European in terms of ODA commitment worth 340 million US dollars this December.