During the press conference, Ambassador Jean Francois Girault said he highly values the special relationship between France and Vietnam. He pledged to do his best to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the framework of agreements reached during French Prime Minister Francois Fillon’s visit to Vietnam at the end of last year.

He said France gives priority to boosting cooperation with Vietnam in various fields, including sustainable development, technology renovation, tertiary education, economic management and security.

He emphasised that France will maintain its leading role in the European Union and continue to provide investment capital and assistance for Vietnam.

He also highlighted Vietnam’s important role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and voiced his support for the country’s chairmanship of the association in 2010.