Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung (R) welcomes Philippe Christodoulou, Vice President for Large Industries International Development of Air Liquide Group (Source: VNA)

At a reception in Hanoi on Thursday for Bertrand Lortholary, French Ambassador to Vietnam, and Philippe Christodoulou, Vice President for Large Industries International Development of Air Liquide Group, Mr. Dung said that the Vietnam-France strategic partnership is growing well, adding that France is currently Vietnam’s leading partner in Europe. Ambassador Lortholary affirmed that many French enterprises are keen on running business and investment in Vietnam, especially the fields in which France has strength and Vietnam has demand such as infrastructure, energy and hi-tech industry. He expressed his belief that the two sides will promote multi-faceted cooperation, especially in collaboration between Vietnamese and French businesses.

Philippe Christodoulou shared, since 1996, Air Liquide Group has continuously expanded its investment scale in Vietnam and wants to participate in the Dung Quat Oil Refinery Plant expansion project and several energy projects in Vietnam.

For this proposal, Deputy PM Dung asked the group to work with the Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company, the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to have a specific cooperation plan.