French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery (L) and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh on March 4, 2020 (Photo: VGP)

During his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, Ambassador Warnery hailed the absence of coronavirus deaths and new cases in Vietnam for more than 20 days.

Mr. Minh suggested the two countries continue to promote bilateral dialogues, particularly the annual high-level Economic Dialogue and the France-Vietnam 2+2 Foreign Affairs and Defence Dialogue.

He thanked France for its support for the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). Deputy PM Minh urged the French National Assembly to speed up ratification. He spoke highly of France’s stance concerning the East Sea and expressed his hope that France will continue to play an active and constructive role in the region and in the EU.