The Opening Ceremony
of the Vietnam - Francophone High - Level Economic Forum was jointly organized
by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The
International Organization of La Francophonie/ L'Organisation internationale de
la Francophonie (OIF) in Hanoi on March
24.
On March 20, 1970, the
International Organization of French - Speaking Countries (Organisation
internationale de la Francophonie) was established. This is a community of
French - speaking countries and territories or Francophone Community, and March
20 is recognized as the International Francophonie Day.
Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and
Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie Louise
Mushikiwabo posing group photo with delegates at the Opening Session of the Forum.
Photo: An Dang/VNA)
Currently, the
Francophone Community has 88 member States and Governments (54 members, 7 associates
and 27 observers) on all continents around the world. With 1.2 billion people,
the Francophone community accounts for 16% of the world's population and 16.5%
of the global wealthfare. Vietnam joined the Francophone Community in 1970. On
implementation of the foreign policy of diversification and
multilateralisation, Vietnam has attached great importance to the cooperation
relationship between Vietnam and the Francophone community, and at the same
time actively contributed to the common activities of the Francophone
community. On March 20 every year, Vietnam often has activities to solemnly and
widespread celebrate the International Francophonie Day.
In 2022, Vietnam welcomed
and received the Secretary General of the International Organization of La
Francophonie Louise Mushikiwabo and the Francophone delegation for Trade and Economic
Promotion to Vietnam. Ms. Mushikiwabo emphasized that “Vietnam is a country
that plays an important role in the Francophone community, is one of the founding
countries of The International Organization of La Francophonie, and is also one
of the leading countries in growth in the Asia - Pacific region. Therefore, the
Francophone community chose Vietnam as the first destination of the delegation
for Trade and Economic Promotion and organize the first Economic Forum of the
International Organization of La Francophonie. At the forum, OIF identified
cooperation with Vietnam in three key areas to help businesses participate more
in the global value chain: the first area is agriculture, forestry, and food processing;
the second area is renewable energy innovation and the third area is digital
transformation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son speaking at
the Ceremony. Photo: An Dang/VNA)
Speaking at the event,
Minister Bui Thanh Son said that 25 years ago, the 7th Francophone Summit which
took place in Hanoi, was also the first one held in the region. In the
Asia-Pacific region, marking a very important milestone in the institutional
development of Francophonie with the adoption of the Francophone Charter and
the election of the first Secretary General of The International Organization
of La Francophonie. The 7th Francophone Summit is also the first major
multilateral event that Vietnam has hosted since the beginning of its
innovative process, a "proof to affirm Vietnam's correct foreign policy, which
affirms Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible
member of the international community, striving together for peace, national
independence, democracy, development cooperation and social progress".
The Secretary General of The International
Organization of La Francophonie Louise Mushikiwabo speaking at the Ceremony.
Photo: An Dang/VNA)
At the Ceremony,
General Secretary of The International Organization of La Francophonie Louise
Mushikiwabo said that this is an opportunity for the Francophone community to
look back at the past and look forward to the future; At the same time, she
expressed her wish that this activity would contribute to the establishment and
consolidation of effective trade partnerships between economic sectors in the
Francophone community.