Viet Nam supports France's initiatives to tackle non-traditional security challenges

Bui, who is in France to attend the 3^rd UN Ocean Conference, highly valued the positive development of the Viet Nam-France relations over the past time, especially since the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the occasion of General Secretary To Lam's visit to France in October last year.

He also spoke highly of France's preparations for co-hosting the 3^rd UN Ocean Conference, affirming Viet Nam's support for France's initiatives to tackle non-traditional security challenges, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Barrot, for his part, appreciated Viet Nam's active support and engagement in the UN Ocean Conference as well as its active and responsible role on the international arena.

France attaches importance to the relations with Viet Nam – an important country in ASEAN and in France's Indo-Pacific Strategy, and wishes to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in a bid to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, affirmed Barrot.

Both sides agreed to coordinate closely in promoting the exchange of delegations at all levels and effectively implementing the agreements signed between the two countries to promote bilateral cooperation in the areas of France's strength and Viet Nam's needs such as defense and security, transport, energy.

Bui took the occasion to invite France to join the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybersecurity scheduled to take place in Ha Noi in October this year.

Barrot affirmed that his country would push for the early ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to facilitate investment between the two countries.

He promised to intensify cooperation with Viet Nam in science and technology – a new pillar of the Viet Nam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Both sides also discussed regional and international issues of common concern, underscoring the importance of multilateralism, in which the United Nations plays the central role.

Regarding ocean related issues, the two sides emphasized that the 1982 United Nations on the Law of the Sea is a comprehensive legal framework governing all maritime activities.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the regions, resolving disputes through peaceful measures grounded in international law, and supporting all efforts to reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that is effective and substantive in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Also at the meeting, Bui invited Barrot to visit Viet Nam and the latter accepted the invitation with pleasure./.