PM meets with French guest

Viet Nam, said the host leader highly values its ties with France, an important partner in Europe and the world. France is now Viet Nam’s second largest European investor and its third biggest trading partner with US$3.2 billion two-way trade turnover. The two countries are celebrating their 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.

PM Dung promised to pave favorable ways for French investors to do long-term business in Viet Nam and suggested the French side further assist the effective implementation of the Ha Noi University of Technology project and support Viet Nam conclude the Free Trade Area Agreement negotiations with the EU.

The PM asked the French side to back Viet Nam’s stance on settling East Sea-related issues by peaceful means in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

For his part, Villepin said many French companies want to penetrate in Viet Nam in transport infrastructure, energy, water supply and drainage, education and training.

The same day, former French PM Dominique de Villepin also met with Vietnamese FM Pham Binh Minh and had working sessions with Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang and Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang./.

By Khanh Phuong