Vietnam-France: A Long-Standing Relationship

Vietnam-France: A Long-Standing Relationship

Interview with H. E. Antoine Pouillieute, French Ambassador to Vietnam on the occasion of the French National Day on July 14, 2004.

Could you inform us about the present and future cooperation between the two countries?

There is a long-standing relationship between France and Vietnam, a strong foundation on which we can expand our partnership for the future on the basis of a common value.

The Franco-Vietnamese partnership is based on political relations through top-level dialogues. The regular presidential visits have promoted the relations between the two countries, with the French President Francois Mitterand making a trip to Vietnam in 1993 and President Jacques Chirac in 1997 and 2004, and Party Secretary General Le Kha Phieu visiting France in 2000 and President Tran Duc Luong in October 2002. The dialogue has been enhanced further by the exchanges of visits between Cabinet ministers and members of Parliament.

Next October, President Jacques Chirac will pay a State visit to Vietnam following the ASEM Summit Conference in Vietnam. The visit will be a focal point in our bilateral relations.

Economic relations are equally strong and France is the top non-Asian partner of Vietnam, standing sixth in investment nations. Some 200 French businesses are operating in Vietnam. In trade relations, the EU with 25 member countries is a top-ranking market for Vietnamese exports.

France is also among the leading countries providing official development assistance to Vietnam.  The cooperation between France and Vietnam are directed under the following objectives: 1) assisting the legal and economic transformation in Vietnam; 2) supporting the modernisation of education and research systems; 3) encouraging cultural cooperation based on the exchange and transfer of technology; 4) assisting economic transformation through mutual development with French enterprises; 5) contributing to poverty alleviation and improvement of social welfare.

To promote future cooperation, I believe that we should enhance the already effective areas of our cooperation, especially in training. The establishment of the French training sectors at the two national universities has clearly demonstrated the will to cooperate of the two countries. I also think that the continued reform of the State sector in Vietnam will facilitate economic relations between France and Vietnam.

What assistance does France provide and what impact does it have on sustainable development in Vietnam?

With Euro106 million committed for 2004, France ranks fourth in official development assistance to Vietnam after Japan, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, second in bilateral assistance and first among Western countries.

Assistance from France also includes activities for sustainable development. France has focused on the concept of sustainable development, namely environment protection, poverty reduction, bio-diversity, human resources and controllable globalisation.

Vietnam is negotiating to join the WTO. What challenges and prospects do you foresee and what is your advice?

Vietnam is on the right track. We believe that with certain improvements Vietnam will be able to join the WTO. However, the important point is to make further efforts to make Vietnamese law compatible with WTO demands.  This does indeed require more time.

• Reported by Su Ky