Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to partnering with member states of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) to promote its common values for peace, stability and prosperity.

 Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh and OIF Secretary General Louise Mushikiwabo
(Photo: VNA)

He was speaking during a reception in Hanoi on December 6 for OIF Secretary General Louise Mushikiwabo.

As an active Francophone member in Asia-Pacific, Vietnam will make greater efforts to increase Francophone presence in the region with initiatives being launched to step up collaboration between Francophone countries in Africa and those in the region, as well as between OIF, the Union of African States and the Asia-Pacific, and with ASEAN.

The country greatly values the OIF’s efforts to seek solutions to political conflicts in its member countries, enhance trust building, and reinforce solidarity and joint work in economy, culture and languages, Binh told his guest.

Vietnam hopes that the OIF will push ahead with the building and implementation of people-oriented policies, and incentivize the active participation of Francophone businesses, women and youths in economic cooperation, while stepping up south-south cooperation and partnerships across a multitude of new fields such as digital technology and climate change response, he said.

During the 2020 – 2021 tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Vietnam will take heed to peace and security in Africa and is ready to cooperate with relevant countries and partners for sustainable peace in Africa.

Binh also assured Vietnam’s readiness to closely work with parties concerned to seek peaceful measures for the settlement of disputes in the East Sea in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In reply, Mushikiwabo, said one of the prioritized tasks during her tenure is to foster ties between Vietnam and the Francophone community as well as its members, especially African nations.

Vietnam should augment economic coordination with OIF member states, particularly those in Africa, as well as further beef up cooperation between Africa and Asia-Pacific, she said.

The OIF Secretary General said she hopes that Vietnam would actively become involved in the consultation forum for Francophone member countries, and promote common interests of the UN Security Council member states, especially issues on peace and security in Africa.