Bui Thanh Son, member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister, paid a working visit to France from March 4 to 5, in the role of special envoy of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.


During his stay, Son and the Vietnamese delegation had meetings with Carole Bureau-Bonnard, Vice President of the National Assembly of France; Stephanie Do, head of the Vietnam-France Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group; Emmanuel Lenain, Diplomatic Adviser to the French Prime Minister; Jean Baptiste Lemoyne, Secretary of State to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France; and the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF).

Through the French side, the Vietnamese official extended PM Phuc’s letter to his French counterpart Edouard Philippe, speaking highly of the fine development of the Vietnam-France strategic partnership and the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level delegations, between the two countries in recent years, notably the official visit to France made by Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and the visit to Vietnam by French PM Edouard Philippe in 2018, as well as high-level visits to be made in 2019.

Regarding the Vietnam-European Union (EU) relations, Son emphasised the benefits of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) in strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two sides, stating that these agreements would contribute to facilitating the EU’s connection with the Asia-Pacific region, including the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).


Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son

He expressed his gratitude for France’s support for the all-around development of the Vietnam-EU ties, asking France and the EU’s bodies to promote the early signing and ratification of the EVFTA and IPA during the current term of the European Parliament (EP) in order to quickly realise the benefits that the agreements could bring.

Leaders of agencies of the French government and parliament expressed their impression on Vietnam’s achievements in economic growth and integration, as well as the country’s foreign position in recent years, emphasising that Vietnam is an important partner of France in the Asia-Pacific region.

They voiced their wish to continue strengthening the bilateral cooperation across various areas, while agreeing to work closely with the Vietnamese side to thoroughly prepare for the visits of the two countries’ senior leaders in 2019.

The French side evaluated that the EVFTA would create a framework for the acceleration of economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and the EU. They agreed on the need to promptly sign and ratify the agreement, adding that France will actively coordinate with the EU member countries to facilitate this process.

Representatives of French businesses expressed their interest in investment and business opportunities between Vietnam and the EU brought by the EVFTA, and affirmed that they would continue to recommend the French government to soon sign and ratify the deal.


Source: NDO

Related Topics


Communications about 80th anniversary of Vietnam People’s Army to be boosted

The Hoa Binh provincial People’s Committee has held a meeting of the organising committee for celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944 - 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the All People’s National Defence Festival (December 22, 1989 - 2024). Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Toan presided over the event.

Role models in patriotic emulation movements

Exemplary collectives, individuals and households in the patriotic emulation movements have contributed greatly to building ethical and moral standards in the community.

State Bank of Vietnam’s Governor pays working visit to Hoa Binh

A delegation of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) led by its Governor Nguyen Thi Hong paid a working visit to Hoa Binh province on February 22.

Hoa Binh people welcome Lunar New Year happily, healthily, safely

Together with the whole country, people of all ethnic groups in Hoa Binh province celebrated the Lunar New Year of the Dragon happily and safely. The warm weather on the first days of the new year made people more joyful, in harmony with the bustling pace of spring life.

Khoan Du commune flourishes under Party’s leadership

Over the last 94 years under the Party’s leadership, the Party organisation, administration, and people of Khoan Du commune (Lac Thuy district), where the first unit of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Hoa Binh province was established, have upheld their glorious revolutionary tradition and stayed united to strongly develop their hometown.