Viet Nam has always been an active member of the Francophone in following its direction and promoting the community's activities in both economic and political-cultural areas.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem made the affirmation at an official ceremony to celebrate the "Francophone Day" in Ha Noi on March 20.

Viet Nam hopes the Francophone community will continue boosting and multiplying the North-South and South-South cooperative models between the community's members, the Deputy PM said.

"Viet Nam has been successfully applying the trilateral cooperative model with African countries in agriculture and is willing to collaborate with the International Francophone Organisation (OIF) and other member countries in the issue," Khiem said.

Patrice Burel, Director of OIF Asia-Pacific regional bureau, praised Viet Nam-OIF cooperation projects. He said a programme to train Vietnamese judicial staff carried out by the France-Viet Nam House of Law is an important step in strengthening a law-governed state.

Two other OIF projects promote Viet Nam's accession to the International Treaty on Cultural Diversification and the teaching of the French language in Viet Nam.
Burel said the Vietnamese government can believe in OIF as a reliable partner in expanding their cooperation.

He also expressed his wish that Vietnamese agencies will continue to play active role in defining and implementing OIF's activities and values.

On the occasion, the director praised Viet Nam's achievements in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), its recent accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as well as the country's successful organisation of the 14th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting.

This year's "Francophone Day" celebration has a significant meaning as it coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Francophone Summit in Ha Noi in 1997, which was the first held in an Asian city.

Ambassadors, representatives from embassies, diplomatic corps, international organisations and Vietnamese relevant agencies attended the ceremony.

Source: VNA