France is now Vietnam ’s second largest European investor and itsthird biggest trading partner with two-way trade hitting 3.2 billion USDlast year. The two countries are celebrating their 40th anniversaryof diplomatic ties this year.
PM Dung toldvisiting former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin at a meetingin Hanoi that as Vietnam ’s leading bilateral donor, France hasalso actively contributed to poverty reduction and socio-economicdevelopment in the country.
He pledged tofacilitate French investment in Vietnam and suggested the French sidefurther assist the effective implementation of the Hanoi University ofTechnology project, as well as support Vietnam conclude theVietnam–EU Free Trade Area Agreement negotiations.
The PM asked the French side to back Vietnam ’s stance on settlingEast Sea-related issues by peaceful means in line with internationallaw, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS).
Villepin said numerous French companieswant to invest in Vietnam in transport infrastructure, energy, watersupply and drainage, education and training.
Hesaid the French side is looking forward to Dung’s visit to Francethis year to realise the bilateral strategic partnership.
Welcoming former French PM Dominique de Villepin the same day, ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh stressed that Vietnam attaches importance tobolstering ties with France .
Minh also notedwith pleasure the strong and widespread development of theVietnam–France friendship and their traditional cooperation in variousareas.
The guest said he believes that thanks toVietnam and France ’s cooperation potential and determination, thetwo countries will further deepen effective links in transport, energy,space aviation and other fields.
Earlier, Villepinheld working sessions with Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoangand Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang./.
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via VNTimes http://www.vntimes.info/2013/05/vietnamese-prime-minister-praises-ties.html