This was announced by Jacques Oudin, an honourary member of the French Senate and co-chairman of the council, at a press briefing in Hanoi on September 19. He said relevant agencies from France and Vietnam have agreed on contents to be discussed at the meeting.  

“During talks with Vietnamese officials, we have reached a high consensus on key issues for discussions at the meeting,” said Mr Oudin.

A number of documents on Vietnam's rapid economic development will be released at the meeting, including a development roadmap approved by the 10th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and a five-year socio-economic development plan drafted by the Vietnamese government.

Documents concerning French official development aid for Vietnam and legal changes when Vietnam becomes a full member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will also be introduced on the occasion.

Mr Oudin added that the two sides will discuss priority areas in their relationship, including rail and road transport infrastructure, aviation and cosmos transportation, energy resources such as nuclear power, petroleum and hydropower, telecommunication, environmental issues such as industrial and medical waste treatment, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, banking, financial and insurance services, food and bio-technology, logistical supply and distribution, and tourism development.

Training high-ranking officials and skilled technicians and developing industrial and high-tech zones for French companies in Vietnam will be also high on the agenda.

To date 26 large French corporations including Air France, Acatel and French Power Development Corporation (EDF) have registered to take part in the first meeting of the council.  

The meeting is expected to be held annually with additional group discussions between the two meetings. 

Mr Oudin visited Vietnam from September 10-19 to discuss Vietnamese officials’ preparations for the council’s first meeting. He was received by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and met with Cao Viet Sinh, Vice Minister of Planning and Investment, who is also co-chairman of the council.  

The council was established under a joint decision by French President Jacques Chirac and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh in June 2005. Its main goal is to direct, strengthen and mobilise resources to implement specific projects so as to further accelerate the economic, trade and investment cooperation between France and Vietnam on par with their political and cultural cooperation.