VN-France relations: exemplary and promising

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and French Minister Laurent Fabius, August 4, 2013 Photo: VGP

Chairman of Viet Nam-France Friendship Association (VFFA) Nguyen Huy Quang made the statement at the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and France.

France is the first European country that helped Viet Nam gradually connect with the international community and supported Viet Nam's renewal.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Viet Nam and France have exchanged numerous high-ranking official visits to seek proper measures for bilateral ties to grow in various areas.

The two sides have established cooperative mechanisms such as the Viet Nam-France financial and economic forum and the France-Viet Nam Supreme Council for Economic Cooperation Development.

They also signed crucial cooperative agreements, for example the Framework Agreement on economic, culture and science-technology cooperation and the Agreement on investment promotion and encouragement.

Viet Nam enjoys main sources of French financial sponsor including the official development assistance (ODA) from the State budget and preferential loan of the French Development Agency and the Priority Solidarity Fund.

France is the second largest ODA providers for Viet Nam (after Japan). Viet Nam ranks seventh among largest ODA recipients of France.

The European country is also the top partner of Viet Nam with the two-way trade turnover of US$3.2 billion in 2012 and the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of US$3.14 billion.

France committed to financing US$340 million for Viet Nam by 2014.

The two sides have launched a number of bilateral cooperative programs in terms of infrastructure construction, energy, traffic and aviation. More than 300 French businesses are operating in Viet Nam in all fields, contributing to accelerating the economic development in Viet Nam and enhancing the two-way trade turnover.

In term of science and technology, France has invested in long-term programs in Viet Nam, specialized in research, development of technology and training, bringing into full play cultural values and increasing legal and administrative capacity with the average expenditure for each project of around €1 million through FSP.

In term of education and training, French side focuses on teaching and developing French in Viet Nam, higher education and post-graduate education in economic development, banking and finance, law and new technology. More than 7,500 Vietnamese students are studying in France.

Currently, nearly 20 cities and province in France have set up relations with Vietnamese cities and provinces with more than 70 cooperative projects in all fields.

In term of culture, the French Government gives priority to cultural integration policy of Viet Nam with respect for the country's culture.