National Day of France marked in HCM City

(VNF) - The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the city’s Vietnam – France Friendship Association (VFFA) held a gathering on July 12 celebrating the 229^th anniversary of National Day of France (July 14, 1789-2018).

Chairwoman of the municipal VFFA Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung.

Speaking at the event, Chairwoman of the municipal VFFA Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung highlighted the growing friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and France in recent years, with the two countries having elevated relations to a strategic level under the motto “traditional friendship, comprehensive, long-lasting and reliable cooperation in the 21^st century”. Especially, during the France visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in March, both sides expressed wish to further deepen their strategic partnership and agreed to facilitate exchanges, especially those at the high level to improve the efficiency of dialogue mechanisms in perse areas.

She said the HCM City VFFA has well performed its role as a bridge connecting people in the city and other French localities via development support projects, festivals, music and movie events, and scholarship grant.

This year, it will hold perse activities such as the Vietnam – France cultural and friendship week, and debut a photo book celebrating the 45^th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership, she said.

French Consul General in HCM City Vincent Floreani.

French Consul General in HCM City Vincent Floreani, for his part, said the anniversary takes place at a time when Vietnam and France are celebrating the 45^th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership.

He pledged to work closely with the municipal VFFA to effectively launch cooperation programmes, promote trade, investment and cultural ties to raise mutual understanding and bring practical benefits to both peoples.

On this occasion, VFFA launched a photo book marking the 45^th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership.

Vincent Floreani received two books on Vietnamese martial arts and Saigon history written in French by Vietnamese authors.

France is now one of the leading economic partners of Vietnam in Europe and one of the largest suppliers of official development assistance to the country. As of late 2017, France ranked third among European countries and 16^th among 114 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 512 projects worth USD 2.8 billion.

In HCM City alone, France invested in 188 projects valued at more than USD 990 million.

Over the past years, business projects, social development projects run by French investors and non-governmental organisations; and fruitful affiliation socially and economically between HCM City and Lyon city and Rhone – Alpes region in the fields of urban planning and lighting, and training have contributed to the common development of the city, and to Vietnam – France ties in particular./.

Translated by Chau Pham