Vietnamese, French localities beef up cooperation

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has called on France to help Vietnamese localities make the best use of their advantages and build specific cooperation programmes.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the conference

To develop such cooperation programmes, it requires the involvement of all-level authorities, organisations and especially businesses, he said, noting that Vietnam always welcomes and facilitates the operation of French businesses in the country.

Speaking at the tenth conference on cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities which opened in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on September 14, the Deputy PM affirmed that France is Vietnam’s most important strategic partner.

Collaboration between the two countries’ localities has been deepened, bringing pragmatic outcomes to both sides, he said.

Martine Pinville, French Minister of State for Commerce, Small-Scale Industry, Consumer Affairs and Social and Solidarity Economy, highlighted potential for cooperation between the two countries and their localities.

The bilateral cooperation covers all regions and realms like culture, health care, training, rural and urban development, hygiene, and French language, she said, up to 240 joint projects are underway with the participation of 19 French localities and 17 Vietnamese provinces.

Themed “Looking towards effective and sustainable economic partners,” the conference is held by the Cités Unies France in conjunction with the Can Tho People’s Committee.

Apart from seminars on cooperation in economy, tourism, education, health care, climate change, agriculture, fisheries, urban development and culture, the conference also featured an international fair.

VNA