On the afternoon of June 2nd, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang received the delegation from the Committee on Defence and Armed Forces of the French National Assembly, led by Chairman Jean-Michel Jacques, during their visit and working trip to Viet Nam.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang welcomed and highly appreciated the delegation's visit; affirmed that Viet Nam and France share many special historical and cultural ties; and emphasized that despite past ups and downs, the relationship between the two countries has now developed to a new level, becoming a model of strategic cooperation, with France being the first EU country with which Viet Nam established a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Deputy Minister affirmed that Viet Nam always values its cooperative relationship with France, and expressed pleasure at the positive developments in bilateral relations in all fields, including the important contributions of the legislative bodies of the two countries.

Highly appreciating the traditional cooperation that bears the strong imprint of France in Viet Nam in the fields of transport infrastructure, industry, and health, the Deputy Minister suggested that both sides continue to strengthen contacts and exchanges of delegations at all levels and through all channels; continue to promote the pivotal role of economic and trade cooperation, and together promote symbolic projects in Viet Nam-France relations.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang requested the French National Assembly to promptly ratify the Viet Nam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and support the European Commission (EC) in lifting the IUU "yellow card" against Vietnamese seafood. In addition, the Deputy Minister hoped that French parliamentarians would support strengthening people-to-people exchanges, local cooperation, and would soon finalize a plan to organize the 13th Conference on Cooperation between Vietnamese and French Localities in France.

For his part, Chairman Jean-Michel Jacques expressed his pleasure at visiting Viet Nam amidst the flourishing comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries; emphasizing that the Viet Nam-France relationship is special and unique, built on a shared history, and highly appreciating the many admirable qualities of the Vietnamese people. In the context of complex international developments, Mr. Jean-Michel Jacques proposed that the two countries continue to strengthen comprehensive cooperation in areas ranging from economics, agriculture , and culture to strategic fields.

Chairman Jean-Michel Jacques affirmed that French National Assembly members support the early ratification of EVIPA and the lifting of the IUU "yellow card" by the EC, as well as the commitment to effectively implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and France. Highly appreciating the positive contributions of the Vietnamese community in France, Mr. Jean-Michel Jacques affirmed that French National Assembly members, especially the French-Vietnamese Friendship Parliamentary Group, are ready to actively support and promote people-to-people exchanges, cultural connections, and enhanced cooperation between localities of the two countries.

Both sides agreed to make defense and security one of the important pillars in bilateral relations, with cooperation in UN peacekeeping operations, search and rescue, and officer training. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in maritime areas, including the South China Sea, and resolving disputes peacefully in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

Source: Vietnam.vn

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