PM Nguyen Tan Dung (R) and French Minister of Defense Le Drain, Paris, September 24, 2013 - Photo: VGP

PM Nguyen Tan Dung made the above remarks at a meeting with French Minister of Defence Le Drain in Paris on September 24.

He also suggested both sides increase the sharing of information between defence strategic research agencies, work together in training and the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions.

Le Drain expressed his belief that the upcoming strategic partnership will open new cooperation fields in defence cooperation which he said has become a pillar in the relations between the two countries.

The Minister affirmed that France is willing to assist Viet Nam in the UN peacekeeping activities, personnel training, and defence technology.

Meeting with National Secretary of the French Communist Party Pierre Laurent, PM Dung informed his host that Viet Nam and France will lift their ties to a strategic partnership level, underpinned by the traditional solidarity, friendship and special cooperation between the Vietnamese and French Communist Parties.

Laurent expressed his wish to further step up cooperation between the two parties via the exchange of visits to share experience in party building and forge cooperation in other fields.

He said he pins high hope on strong and practical cooperation between the two parties and peoples in the time ahead.

At a reception for General Secretary of the France-Viet Nam Society (FVS) Patrice Jorland, PM Dung told his host that Viet Nam views the association as a channel for information exchange to bolster mutual trust and understanding between the two peoples.

In such spirit, he said he wishes the FVS will continue working as a bridge to help the French and international friends know more about Viet Nam, thus forging closer ties between the two nations.

Jorland made it clear that his association will work for stronger cooperation between the two countries.

The FVS is helping Viet Nam ease war consequences by extending its support to Agent Orange/dioxin victims. It also supports Viet Nam in dealing with sustainable development issues, poverty reduction and national industrialization. -  VNA