General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong holds talks with French President Emmanuel Macron (Photo: VNA)

The ongoing official visit to France by the Party leader and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation is taking place at a special time of the bilateral relations, he said.

He highly valued the socio-economic development achievements that Vietnam has gained over the past years.
Party leader Trong said he was glad to visit France again and thanked the French President, authorities and people for their warm welcome.
He highly appreciated the role and position of France in Europe and the world, saying Vietnam considers the development of friendly cooperation with France a top priority in its external affairs policy.
He took this occasion to thank France for supporting Vietnam in all aspects.
The two leaders informed each other about the situation in each country and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, especially security matters.

They agreed that disputes should be addressed via peaceful means and international law and countries’ roles and responsibilities should be promoted for regional peace, security and development.

The two sides discussed measures to establish frameworks and orientations to create new momentum for deeper strategic partnership, opening a new development period for the bilateral relations.
They underlined the long-standing special relationship between Vietnam and France and their historical, cultural and social closeness as well as expressed pleasure at the growing 45-year diplomatic ties and the 5-year strategic partnership.
The two countries are witnessing the best development period with a comprehensive and effective cooperation foundation created in all fields, serving as an important driving force to elevate their ties to a new height, they noted.
To step up strategic cooperation to create a strong change to improve the efficiency of cooperation in all fields, the two leaders agreed to maintain and increase high-level contacts and meetings, improve the efficiency of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, expand affiliation across the board, increase people-to-people exchange and locality-to-locality partnership, and boost coordination in regional and international issues of mutual concern.
The French President asked Vietnam to provide favourable conditions for French businesses to invest and implement cooperation projects in Vietnam, enhance cooperation in defence and security and personnel training, and boost parliamentary cooperation.
The Party chief welcomed and noted down France’s requests and expressed his wish that Vietnam will receive efficient assistance and cooperation from France.
The two leaders shared their view that economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries has grown positively, but it is yet to match with their sound political ties, positions, potentials as well as their desires.
As such, they agreed to step up practical measures to boost trade, exchange measures to speed up important cooperation projects on telecommunications, energy, aviation, safe water, climate change, environment, and seek supportive measures to enable their businesses’ market entry.
They shared the view that the two countries are enjoying conditions to boost cooperation in investment in high technology, clean energy, organic agriculture and digital industry.
Measures to boost cooperation in science-technology, healthcare, energy and education and training were on the table as well. The French President suggested the establishment of French schools in Vietnam.
Both sides affirmed their desire to make Vietnam-France friendship cooperation as part of the dynamic spaces like the EU and ASEAN. They agreed to speed up the signing and ratification of the free trade deal between Vietnam and the EU in 2018, creating new momentum for economic, trade and investment collaboration between the two nations.
The two leaders hailed significant contributions made by the Vietnamese community in France to the bilateral ties. Party General Secretary Trong hoped that France will continue support for the Vietnamese nationals in the country so that they can further contribute to the relations.
On the occasion, the Party chief invited the French President to visit Vietnam in a convenient time. The later accepted the invitation with pleasure.
The same day, Emmanuel Macron held a grand banquet for the Vietnamese Party leader and the high-ranking delegation from Vietnam. Also, the two leaders witnessed the signing of some significant cooperation deals and met with the press.