Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam encourages and creates favourable conditionsfor cooperation between Vietnamese and French enterprises, Deputy PrimeMinister Trinh Dinh Dung has reaffirmed.
Dung hosted a reception in Hanoi on October 4 for BertrandLortholary, French Ambassador to Vietnam, and Philippe Christodoulou, VicePresident for Large Industries International Development of Air Liquide Group.
He said that the Vietnam-France strategic partnership isgrowing well, reflected through the regular exchange of high-level delegations,including the France visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in March2018.
Cooperation in culture, education, economics, trade andinvestment has become an important pillar in the bilateral ties, Dung stated,adding that France is currently Vietnam’s leading partner in Europe.
Ambassador Lortholary affirmed that many French enterprisesare keen on running business and investment in Vietnam, especially in thefields 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-facetedcooperation, especially in collaboration between Vietnamese and Frenchbusinesses.
Philippe Christodoulou shared since 1996, Air Liquide Grouphas continuously expanded its investment scale in Vietnam, with over 10 factoriesset up so far, providing gas for the automobile, metal, electronic,petrochemical, and healthcare sectors.
The group wants to participate in the Dung Quat Oil RefineryPlant expansion project and several energy projects in Vietnam, he stated.
For this proposal, Deputy PM Dung asked the group to workwith the Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company, the VietnamNational Oil and Gas Group and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to have aspecific cooperation plan.
He stressed the highest target of ensuring the efficiencyand quality of products of the Dung Quat Oil Refinery Plant after it is expandedand upgraded.-VNA