The Vietnam-France Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City on July 14 held a ceremony to mark the 225th National Day of France, which falls on the same day.

Addressing the ceremony, the Association’s Chairman Le Quoc Hung highlighted the growing friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries, with an array of activities marking the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic ties held in 2013 and 2014.

French Consul General in HCM City Fabrice Mauries addresses the ceremony. Photo: VOV

HCM City has set up fruitful affiliation socially and economically with France’s Rhone Alpes region and Lyon city.

The city has seen a range of projects and programmes on trade, health, education, agriculture, HIV/AIDS fight, and the environment, run by French investors and non-governmental organisations.

According to Fabrice Mauries, French Consul General in HCM City, three-fourths of French investors in Vietnam chose to run business and open their representative offices in HCM City.

The diplomat noted that Vietnam has made rapid changes and recorded robust growth in many fields, which was partly contributed by France.

He affirmed that activities held in the framework of the 2013 France Year in Vietnam helped tighten relations between the two countries as well as introduce French cultural identities to the public.

Source: VNA