The Party chief, accompanied by a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, was welcomed by French Ambassador to Vietnam Bertrand Lortholary and Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Thiep, alongside representatives from the French Government and the overseas Vietnamese community in France.
Upon his arrival in Paris, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation visited Montreuil city, the second biggest city in the Seine-Saint-Denis department, approximately 15km to the northeast of Paris.
Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong and the leaders from Montreuil city laid wreaths at the statue of late President Ho Chi Minh to commemorate the national hero and the world cultural celebrity.
Mayor of Montreuil city Patrice Bessas said that President Ho Chi Minh was a great leader of the Vietnamese people and peace lovers around the world, including Montreuil residents.
The two sides have increased exchanges over the past few years and pledged to diversify their cooperation in numerous fields such as climate change adaptation, agriculture, and sustainable use of natural resources.
Montreuil was one of the first cities in the world to support the Vietnamese people in the resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, the Mayor said.
Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong said he was glad to meet French friends in Montreuil in a very warm atmosphere.
He noted that Vietnam and France are celebrating the 45th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year. Montreuil is the symbol of the long-standing bilateral friendship, he said.
On behalf of the Vietnamese people, the Party chief thanked the French people for promoting solidarity and supporting Vietnam in the past and at present.
Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong and Mayor Patrice Bessas jointly planted a commemorative tree at the Montreuil Park. They later visited a space displaying objects and documents on President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary life in France at the Montreuil Museum of History.
