(VOVworld) - French President Francois Hollande on Monday began his three-day state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang.

President Tran Dai Quang holds talk with French President François Hollande. (Photo: VOV)

After an official welcoming ceremony in Hanoi, the two Presidents held talk where they asserted their shared determination to develop the Vietnam-France strategic partnership into long-term cooperation for increasing the mutual benefit.

The two leaders agreed on high-level exchanges and the role of coordination mechanisms, and the nature of bilateral cooperation on politics, economics, defense, science and technology, culture, education, and training.

Both also reached a consensus on boosting defense cooperation, especially in equipment, exchanges of naval ships, support for Vietnam’s participation in UN peace-keeping forces, and jointly dealing with traditional and non-traditional security issues.

Vietnam and France will also tighten cooperation in response to global challenges focusing on climate change.

President Hollande reiterated France’s commitment to further providing ODA for Vietnam. Both countries stressed the creation of more favorable conditions for the two business communities to cooperate, invest, and do business with the aim of developing a partnership relations based on the mutual benefit.

Vietnam has invited France to join the 2017 International Food Exhibition of Vietnam (Vietnam Foodexpo) as a special guest. The two leaders agreed to work closely together to ensure the success of the 10^th cooperative conference of localities across Vietnam and France scheduled to take place in Can Tho City next Wednesday.

Vietnam and France will intensify coordination in multilateral forums such as the UN, ASEAN-EU, ASEM, and the French-speaking forum; and will continue to support each other to develop France’s relations with the Asia-Pacific Region and enhance cooperation between Vietnam and the EU.

The two leaders clarified the importance of maintaining peace and stability, strengthening regional and international cooperation, and reiterating commitments to securing the freedoms of navigation and aviation. They also focused on resolving the East Sea disputes through peaceful means including diplomatic and legal processes based on respect for international law.

President Tran Dai Quang and President François Hollande witness the signing of cooperative documents. (Photo: VGP/Hai Minh)

After the talk, President Tran Dai Quang and President Francois Hollande witnessed the signing of documents outlining cooperation in justice, agriculture, French language instruction, the response to climate change, and the provision of telecommunications, satellite, and infrastructure development.