NDO/VNA - French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery has affirmed that Vietnam is a true strategic partner of France.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on October 29 ahead of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s France visit from November 3-5, Warnery wished that the visit would help materialise commitments by the two countires, as well as further promote bilateral strategic partnership.

According to him, Vietnam and France worked closely together within the framework of the United Nations Security Council. He thanked Vietnam for backing France’s bid to become a development partner of ASEAN and hailed ASEAN’s key role in the Indo-Pacific in external policies of the European Union member states, including France.

He also spoke highly of close collaboration between the two countries in dealing with global issues.

On the significance of the PM’s visit, Warnery said it demonstrates the importance of bilateral friendship and cooperation in various areas.

On environment field, he said the French Development Agency (AFD) is assisting Vietnam in mitigating the negative impacts of climate change. During the visit, the AFD will sign deals to provide financial assistance for Vietnam to expand Hoa Binh hydropower dam, prevent flooding in Dien Bien Phu, and connect renewable energies, including solar power, with the national grid.

About bilateral medical ties, he applauded the two countries’ efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic via Vietnam’s presentation of masks to France last year and France’s delivery of vaccines to Vietnam this year.

The diplomat also wished for breakthroughs in aerospace cooperation, especially via the signing of a cooperation agreement among the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the National Centre for Space Studies of France, and Airbus Group.

The French Government is stepping up the teaching of French language to Vietnam via different channels and for those of all ages. At present, two schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are working as those in France. Up to 40 percent of their students are Vietnamese, thus creating a close bond between young people and French culture, he said.

The ambassador wished that flights between the two nations would be resumed to welcome Vietnamese students back to France in the near future.

As part of the visit, he said both sides will also sign a document recognising each other’s certificates, thus creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese students to study in France.

France is ready to help Vietnam improve the operations of public agencies, digitalise administrative procedures and build electronic portals for public services, he stated.

The Vietnamese PM’s visit will take place following his attendance at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) and visit to the UK from October 31 – November 3.