Speaking at the event, Vice Admiral Herve de Bonnaventure, Deputy Director General for International Relations and Strategy under the French Ministry of Defence, said that France highly values the role and position of Vietnam in the region and hopes to promote the bilateral defence collaboration to contribute to regional peace, stability and development.
He called on Vietnam to support France to partake in regional security mechanisms and enhance relations with Asian-Pacific countries, especially in 2020 when Vietnam will take the role of the rotated Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Senior Lieutenant General Vinh said that the elevation of the dialogue proves the development of the Vietnam-France strategic partnership, enabling the two countries to develop their defence partnership in a more practical and effective manner.
Vietnam will support France to join regional security architectures such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus). He added that Vietnam always backs multinational efforts in maintaining peace, stability and cooperation for common development in the region.
Vietnam serves as a bridge to connect France with other nations in the region, especially ASEAN member states, he said.
During his working visit to France, Vinh paid a courtesy visit to Geneviève Darrieussecq, Secretary of State to the Minister of the Armed Forces.
The two sides agreed to set up a working group involving military history experts of both countries to exchange information and memories of the Indochina war as well as share responsibilities with war veterans and their relatives.
The Vietnamese officer also met with Bernard Rogel, Chief of the Military Staff of the President of the Republic, to talk about Vietnam-France defence ties.
