He said 73 years since President Ho Chi Minh delivered the Independence Declaration on September 2, 1945, Vietnam has become an active member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with a 91 million population and an average income per capita of more than USD 2,000 each year.
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Ambassador to France Nguyen Thiep. Photo: VOV |
Vietnam has established diplomatic ties with most UN member states and maintained economic and trade ties with nearly 230 countries and territories. This year, Vietnam and France mark the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of their strategic partnership, playing a key role in promoting relations between ASEAN and the EU.
Highlighting the importance of France visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong last March, Thiep said it had created a strong driving force for the development of bilateral ties across politics, economy, culture, education, healthcare and national defense.
Vietnamese officials also paid working trips to France, including those by Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung in April, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung in June and Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich in September with the signing of a Joint Vision Declaration on defense cooperation for 2018-2028.
Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne arrived in Hanoi in January to chair a Vietnam – France economic dialogue. The first Vietnam – France dialogue on security and defence strategy recently held in Paris also opened up opportunities for collaboration.
Major Vietnamese firms such as Viettel, FPT and Vietnam Airlines are also present in France.
On the occasion, the ambassador noted Vietnam will join the Paris Motor Show in October for the first time, presenting VinFast automobiles manufactured by Vietnam’s Vingroup.
Cultural and art activities are planned to celebrate the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties throughout the year.
Source: VNA