Vietnam and France are making the necessary preparations for their cultural exchange year in 2013, says Vietnamese ambassador to France, Duong Chi Dung.

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 According to Dung, the Vietnam-France cultural exchange year will last through early 2014 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and mark the development of their bilateral cooperation.

It is also a significant event which will open up opportunities to expand relationships between the two nations to various fields.

 Various activities such as exchanges of high-ranking delegations, economic forums, strategic dialogues, and meetings of joint committees on scientific and technological cooperation, as well as working sessions between the two countries’ ministries and agencies, are scheduled during the year. 

Ambassador Duong Chi Dung

There will also be various cultural activities including art performances, exhibitions, film weeks, symposiums, and book and food festivals, he said.

 Regarding the Vietnam-France relationship, Ambassador Dung said President Francois Hollande’s administration has always attached importance to boosting ties with Vietnam.

 In a letter sent to State President Truong Tan Sang, President Hollande proposed that both countries promote exchanges of high-ranking delegations and raise their bilateral relationship to a new level, Dung said, adding that despite the economic crisis in Europe, France is trying to enhance ties with the Asian-Pacific region.

 In that context, he said, Vietnam-France cooperation and Vietnam’s positive role in ASEAN and the Francophone Community will help create favourable conditions for France to implement its policies in the region.

 The bilateral relationship has always been developed for mutual benefit. Two-way trade reached US$2.8 billion in 2011, up 30 percent compared to 2010.

 Many official development assistance (ODA) projects are being effectively implemented, such as an urban railway project in Hanoi and a satellite to monitor natural resources, Dung said, adding that people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between their localities are also being expanded.

 By raising its relationship with France, Vietnam can take advantage of the economic, scientific and technological resources it offers to serve our national development, concluded Ambassador Dung.

VOV