On Wednesday, Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairman Dang Viet Dung played host to the French Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Viet Nam, Mr Bertrand Lortholary.

French diplomat Lortholary (left) and Vice Chairman Dung

During his reception for the French guest, Vice Chairman Dung remarked his city was now home to 21 French-invested projects totalling around 22.7 million USD. Over recent years, Da Nang and some French localities have together implemented many cooperative programmes in such aspects as economy, culture, education, and exchanging high-quality human resources.

The host applauded the efforts of the city-based French Institute in joining forces with the municipal authorities in organising a series of events in the city this year to celebrate the 45^th anniversary of the Viet Nam - France diplomatic ties.

Also, Mr Dung asked for help from the French ambassador to deepen the bilateral relations with French in various aspects, including high quality human resources, cultural links, and climate change adaptation. He added Da Nang needs a helping hand from Mr Bertrand Lortholary to appeal for even more investors from his country to pour money into the city’s industrial parks, especialy Hi-tech Park.

Vice Chairman Dung also said that the city leaders agreed to attend the 11^th Viet Nam-France Decentralised Cooperation Conference which will be held in Toulouse, France, in April 2019.

In reply, French diplomat Lortholary noted this year marked an important milestone of the bilateral strategic partnership with Viet Nam, and marking the 45^th anniversary of the Viet Nam - France diplomatic ties.

The French guest underscored the importance of fostering the bilateral cooperation with Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, in the aspects of waste treatment, urban transportation systems, education, and information technology.

Mr Lortholary also asked the Da Nang authorities to give a helping hand to promote the opening of non-stop flights between Da Nang and some French localities, as well as to facilitate the French Development Agency (AFD) to effectively deploy its projects in the city. This would help to lift the bilateral relations between Da Nang and French localities to new heights, he added.