Vietnam, France officially set up strategic ties

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault, Paris, September 25, 2013 Photo: VGP

The strategic partnership covers five fields of politics-diplomacy, national defense and security, economy-trade-investment, development cooperation to cultural-educational-scientific-lawmaking-judiciary cooperation.

Regarding politics-diplomacy, both countries will foster dialogue on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common concern.

The two countries see ASEAN as a key factor of peace, security, stability and development in Asia.

They underline the importance of the European Union’s participation in ASEAN regional forum (ARF).

For national defense and security, the two countries will boost the exchange of delegations at ministerial and senior officials levels; consolidate joint committee on national defense cooperation, and enhance cooperation in staff training and military medicine.

France will support Vietnam to improve its capacity of joining the United Nations-led peacekeeping operations and enhance exchange of information relevant to strategic, international and regional issues with an aim to preserve the global peace and security.

Both countries wish their businesses would expand cooperation in defense industry.

In terms of economic, trade and investment cooperation, Vietnam and France pledge to further facilitate their businesses to access respective markets.

France will help Vietnam to develop priority areas like energy, aviation and aerospace industry, environment and sustainable development, banking, information and communication technology, agriculture and food processing.

The two sides advocate the signing of a comprehensive, balanced and ambitious free trade agreement between the European Union and Vietnam.

For development cooperation, the two countries welcome and pledge to further promote great achievements gained during the past 20 years.

Vietnam will accelerate the implementation of France-funed projects on agriculture, urban infrastructure, climate change adaptation, clean energy, environmental and water management.

In cultural, educational, scientific, lawmaking and judiciary areas, the two countries will beef up cultural creativity and inter-civilization dialogues.

France will support Vietnam in tertiary education and scientific research through development of Ha Noi University of Science and Technology, inter-university cooperation, and introduction of French-style curriculums in Vietnam.

The two PM agreed that plans of action will be designed to realize the strategic partnership.