Hanoi (VNA) – Politburo member and Secretary ofthe Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan praised new FrenchAmbassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery for his insight into Vietnam and Ho ChiMinh City, during a reception on January 8.

Expressing his delight at the development of Vietnam –France ties, especially since the upgrade of bilateral relations into astrategic partnership in 2013, Nhan said ties between Ho Chi Minh City andFrance have been growing.

France has invested in 262 projects worth 256 million USD,ranking 16th out of the 108 countries and territories investing inHo Chi Minh City. Two-way trade between the city and France surpassed 884million USD last year.

Ho Chi Minh City and Lyon city of France have signed acooperation agreement for the 2018 – 2020 period, launched a lighting project atthe Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, and are preparing for another at the StateTreasury in Ho Chi Minh City, he said, describing France’s Space project as a symbolof bilateral strategic partnership.

Congratulating Vietnam on assuming the role of anon-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and the ASEAN Chair,Warnery said France is always willing to help Vietnam fulfill its mission.

France will continue pushing for an early ratification by theEuropean Parliament of the Vietnam – European Union Free Trade Agreement andthe EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, he said, adding that hiscountry also wants to step up cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City in the fieldsof economy, trade, education and culture in the near future./.