Outgoing French Ambassador Bids Farewell to Vietnamese President
Vietnam’s President, Vo Van Thuong, has commended outgoing French Ambassador to Vietnam, Nicolas Warnery, for his successful term in the Southeast Asian country. This acknowledgment came during a reception held in Hanoi on July 10, where President Thuong expressed his confidence in Warnery’s ability to continue fostering the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between Vietnam and France in any future role.
President Thuong also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to France for providing Vietnam with millions of vaccine doses, which greatly aided the country in effectively combating the COVID-19 pandemic. To strengthen bilateral ties going forward, the President proposed continued facilitation of meetings and visits between leaders of both nations. He extended an invitation for French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Vietnam at a suitable time, emphasizing that Vietnam is fully prepared to welcome him.
President Thuong further encouraged the exchange of delegations at the local level and highlighted the importance of promoting people-to-people exchanges to deepen the longstanding friendship between Vietnam and France. He also expressed Vietnam’s enthusiasm for joint programs and projects between businesses of both countries, with the hope that France will soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to enhance bilateral collaboration.
Regarding the preservation of French cultural works and architectural heritage in Vietnamese cities and provinces, President Thuong expressed his desire for France to continue supporting efforts to maintain and safeguard these important assets. Recognizing France’s stance on the East Sea issue, President Thuong hoped for France’s continued support for ASEAN and Vietnam in ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region. He emphasized the importance of peaceful means and adherence to international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Ambassador Warnery expressed his gratitude to Vietnam for the timely donation of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized France’s strong commitment to strengthening ties with Vietnam across various areas, including politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, investment, education, healthcare, energy, and climate change response. As 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership, President Macron aims to meet with President Thuong soon to discuss comprehensive cooperation.
France also affirmed its willingness to collaborate with Vietnam in preserving French-style cultural works and architectural heritage, particularly the iconic Long Bien Bridge, which holds historical significance for Hanoi over the years.
This fruitful meeting between President Thuong and Ambassador Warnery reflects the positive and mutually beneficial relationship between Vietnam and France. The commitment to deepening these ties across various sectors, as well as the shared values of preserving cultural heritage and upholding international law, bodes well for the future of this strategic partnership. Both countries look forward to further strengthening their collaboration and creating a prosperous future together.
