Vietnam's Party leader meets French Prime Minister

The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong met with the French Prime Minister, Édouard Phillipe, in Paris on March 26 as part of his current official visit to the European country.

Secretary General of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trong (R) shakes hands with French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe
Secretary General of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trong (R) shakes hands with French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe

The head of the French government lauded Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s current visit, considering it an important milestone in promoting the strategic partnership links between the two countries.

Both sides shared their delight at the quality and dynamism of Vietnam-France cooperation in various fields, from politics, diplomacy, economics, security, and defense to culture, health, science, education, training, law and justice, and collaboration among localities.

They spoke of their mutual desire to broaden the strategic partnership in the new period, agreeing to improve the exchange of information and contacts, especially those of a high-level, to increase the effectiveness of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms in all areas, especially in the economy, and to strengthen coordination in regional and international forums.

They emphasised that economic cooperation always plays a very important role in bilateral relations, and agreed to strengthen economic, commercial, and investment ties in order to match with ties in politics and culture.

PM Philippe expressed his satisfaction with the signing of contracts and economic collaboration documents during this visit, saying that the French government will promote the implementation of inked projects and agreements.

He stressed that the government will encourage and create favourable conditions for French provinces and companies to expand cooperation for the mutual benefit of Vietnamese companies, saying that he wants the Vietnamese government to facilitate French companies’ investments in the Southeast Asian country.

For his part, Party General Secretary Trong suggested that the two sides should make greater efforts to promote the potential of economic cooperation and the effective implementation of projects.

He affirmed that Vietnam is willing to facilitate the participation of French companies in its industrialisation and modernisation, and is ready to be a bridge for them to access the markets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Host and guest expressed their common desire to accelerate the signing and ratification of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union in 2018, to create a new impetus for economic, commercial, and investment cooperation between Vietnam and France, and with the EU as a whole.

The Vietnamese Party leader asked the French government to increase its support and cooperation in the field of training and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community living in France.

On this occasion, Party General Secretary Trong invited PM Philippe to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time. The PM accepted the offer with pleasure.