Association contributes to France-Vietnam relationship

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the official visit to France by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong from March 25-27, he briefed the association’s major activities to support Vietnamese people during their past struggle for national liberation as well as the present national construction. 

The AAFV has contributed to developing relations between Vietnam and France and other countries, said Jean Pierre Archambault, who is also editor-in-chief of Perspectives France-Vietnam magazine. 

The association has closely coordinated with the Vietnam Red Cross Society, supported war victims, especially those affected by Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin, he said, adding that it has accompanied Vietnamese – French Tran To Nga in the lawsuit against 26 US chemical firms for producing chemical toxins sprayed by the US army during the war in Vietnam in the 1960-1970 period.

Besides, the AAFV has raised its voice protecting Vietnam’s sovereignty and sovereign right in the East Sea, he said. 

In the combat against climate change, the association has showed its solidarity with Vietnam, one of the nations hardest hit by global warming and sea level rise, Jean Pierre Archambault added. 

He affirmed that bilateral and multilateral cooperation projects form an important content of the association’s action plan, adding that apart from participating in conferences relating to health issues in Vietnam, the AAFV has closely cooperated with many French companies and the Vietnamese businesspersons’ association in France to enhance economic ties between the two countries. 

He said one of the association’s tasks is helping French people understand more about Vietnam, as well as its history, civilisation, achievements and challenges. 

To that end, the AAFV has organised many seminars, film screenings and exhibitions, and run Perspectives France-Vietnam magazine in order to popularise the bilateral relationship. 

The association has launched an award for research studies on Vietnam by young French people, and plans to encourage partners to participate in the organisation of the day of friendship and solidarity associations with Vietnam in 2019, said Jean Pierre Archambault.