In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the official visit to France by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Stephanie Do said the all-round relationship between France and Vietnam, especially between their two legislative bodies, has developed strongly and has been unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Stephanie Do, President of the France - Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Group at the French Parliament

The two countries have benefited from the long-lasting partnership, and health bond has been a strong point in bilateral cooperation, she said, noting that Vietnam has shown its generosity when presenting antibacterial masks and other medical equipment to France amid the pandemic.

According to Stephanie Do, France was one of the first Western countries backing Vietnam's reform policy, development and opening-up. Major inter-parliamentary groups are true elements of France’s foreign policy, while culture and education are the areas that contribute to deepening the friendly relationship between the two countries.

She expressed support for France's foreign policy towards strengthening ties with ASEAN, emphasizing that France and ASEAN share views on the Indo-Pacific region based on respect for international law, multilateralism and international cooperation.

In the face of important geopolitical and economic challenges in the region, it is necessary to pay attention to further strengthening the relationship between France, the European Union (E.U.) and ASEAN, she went on. 

She highlighted the significance of PM Chinh’s trip to France in further fostering the bilateral relations, especially in the COVID-19 crisis, saying that the two countries should seek to create more momentum for their trade relations in the coming time.

Source: VNA