Speaking at her reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang, Catherine Deroche expressed her interest in and sympathy for Vietnam in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges that the country has been facing.
She underscored France’s support to Vietnam in coping with the pandemic as well as fostering bilateral relations in such fields as economic cooperation, education and training, and healthcare.
For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to France DinhToan Thang expressed his thanks to Catherine Deroche and the France - Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group for actively coordinating in organising activities regarding Vietnam in the Senate in recent times, supporting the enhancement of relations between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the French Senate, and promoting relations between localities of the two countries as well as contributing to consolidating the Vietnam-France strategic partnership.
The ambassador also expressed his hope that the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Group will keep on assisting Vietnam in bilateral relations, as well as in the Vietnam-EU relationship, and promote the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
The two sides also agreed to continue coordinating in organising joint activities, making efforts to promote the exchange of high-level visits and delegations between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the French Senate, and prepare for the 12th Vietnam - France locality cooperation conference slated to be held in Hanoi in 2022.
The 30-member France - Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group in the French Senate is one of the largest friendship groups with countries in France. They have carried out many valuable activities to support Vietnam in different periods.
