The signatories were Tran Van Ta, Vietnam’s Permanent Vice Minister of Finance, and Daniel Morel, President of ADETEF - the French cooperation office of the Ministry of Finance, Economics and Employment and the Ministry of Budget, Treasury and Public Administration.

In its press release, ADETEF said that the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of Vietnam and ADETEF have been cooperating for 15 years through different activities and projects.

The two sides jointly define and implement a programme to assist and train staff members of the MoF’s general departments every year.

In 2007, at least 35 activities including training sessions, study tours and seminars have been and will be carried out to provide technical support for the targeted the General Department of Customs, the State Treasury, the General Department of Taxation and the Finance Inspection.

ADETEF and the Government of Vietnam have annually organised the “French-Vietnamese Economic and Financial Forum”. The 7th forum will be held in December to deal with social and economic impacts occurring after Vietnam’s entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO).