(VNF) – Vietnam was elected as Chair of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors (GAF) in Switzerland in 2018 during the 8th meeting of the group in Bern on February 19.

With the election result, Vietnam has become the second country to take this position after the first term of the Swiss Ambassador last year.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Ambassador of Vietnam to Switzerland, Pham Hai Bang affirmed Vietnam’s willingness to make greater effort for GAF’s development, connect GAF’s members, and coordinate the group’s activities, particularly the organization of the Francophone Week in Switzerland in March.

Ambassador Pham Hai Bang (source: The World and Vietnam)

Bang also took the occasion to ask for support from the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs and heads of diplomatic agencies of the member nations, and especially Ambassador Anne Lugon-Mounlin, to help Vietnam successfully take the role as the GAF Chair.

Congratulating Ambassador Bang for his new position, Henri Eli Monceau, head of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) permanent mission to the United Nations, said that he hopes Vietnam will continue promoting the spirit of the OIF Summit in Hanoi in 1997 for the common goals of the French-speaking community.

The GAF groups more than 60 ambassadors from embassies of countries in Bern and permanent missions to the United Nations in Geneva who are members or observers of the OIF./.

( VNF )