Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the ceremony in Paris on March 26, 2018, to mark the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic ties. (Photo: VNA)

“Vietnam is France’s key partner in Asia. We have established a strategic partnership to boost cooperation in politics, economics, legislation, culture, education, science, parliament and military. Several soon-to-be-signed scientific and aviation deals are proof of this strategic relationship," NA President de Rugy said.

He added: "Vietnam is a pillar of ASEAN, Vietnam’s GDP increased 15 fold over the past 30 years. It’s an emerging economy, so I hope the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement, which will take effect this year, will help increase the number of French businesses in Vietnam.”

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong said the Vietnam-France relationship is always among the priorities of Vietnam’s foreign policy. 

“It’s necessary to boost cooperative relations between Vietnam and France for the benefit of both countries," he said, we need to scale up efforts in order to deepen the strategic partnership, increase mutual political trust and high-level exchanges, improve the efficiency of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, expand cooperation in politics, diplomacy, defense, security, economics, science, education, tourism, justice, and the environment, expand people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities, and intensify coordination in regional and international issues of mutual concern,” Mr Trong noted.

He stressed that he hopes France will help Vietnam enhance relations with the EU. At the same time, Vietnam is willing to help France approach ASEAN markets and member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).