A ceremony was held in Hanoi on March 20 to mark the InternationalFrancophone Day held by the Foreign Ministry and the InternationalOrganisation of Francophone (OIF).

Addressing the event, DeputyForeign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc affirmed Vietnam values its cooperativerelations with the Francophone community, considering it a prioritypartner and an effective international community in helping Vietnamimplement its foreign policy of independence, autonomy,multilateralisation of ties and active international integration.

Hehailed the Francophone community’s constant efforts to boost solidarityand cooperation for peace and development among its member countriesduring the past 45 years, adding that Vietnam’s diplomatic relationswith Francophone nations have been continuously strengthened andexpanded.

Anissa Barrak, Asia-Pacific RegionalDirector of the OIF, highlighted the linguistic diversity and the roleof the Francophone community, affirming that the community alwaysparticipates in joint efforts to address global challenges such asterrorism and climate change.

She emphasised onthe highlights in cooperation between Vietnam and the OIF, while hailingthe country’s important role and position in the Francophone community.

Vietnam helps create a firm support for Francophonie in the Asia-Pacific region, she added.

On the occasion, Deputy Foreign Minister Ngoc presented theFriendship Order from the State President to the OIF’s regional officeand the Francophone University Agency (AUF) in recognition of theoffices’ valuable contributions to promoting the Vietnam-OIF ties overthe past 20 years.

At the ceremony, Ambassadorand Professor Duong Van Quang, former head of the Vietnamese Mission toUNESCO, and Ta Thi Minh Ngoc, a lecturer of Nha Trang University, werepresented with awards from the group of Francophone embassies, missionsand institutions in Hanoi.-VNA