He made the remark while addressing the opening session of the 16th Francophonie Summit in Madagascar’s capital city of Antananarivo on November 26 morning (local time). 

He said members of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) have worked closely with other international and regional organisations, especially the United Nations and the African Alliance, to step up preventing and resolving many conflicts, crises, political unrests and terrorism in some member nations, thereby actively contributing to maintaining peace, security and stability in the Francophone community and around the world.

They have also obtained important outcomes in realising the Millennium Development Goals, especially in poverty eradication, educational and healthcare service quality improvement, environmental protection, gender equality promotion, and child care and protection.

President Quang said Vietnam welcomes the Francophone community’s efforts to enhance the language and culture diversification, the protection of each country’s cultural identities amid globalisation, and the increase of economic partnerships between OIF members and other countries around the world. It is pleased with the OIF countries’ contributions to global joint efforts to reach important agreements, particularly the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development.

As an active and responsible member of the Francophone community, Vietnam has proactively implemented the community’s strategies and cooperation programmes, thus helping to solidify the solidarity, unity and cooperation among OIF members, he noted.

Vietnam welcomes the summit’s theme, “Shared growth and responsible development: conditions for stability around the world and within La Francophonie”, he said, asking the member countries to enhance cooperation and solidarity for peace, stability and sustainable development.

The Vietnamese leader called on the Francophone community to promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, while helping its member nations to include the Sustainable Development Goals and the commitments in the Paris Agreement in their national development strategies and programmes.

The OIF countries also need to actively join global and regional efforts to promote peace, security and stability in the member nations and the world at large.

President Quang asked the Francophone community to continue an objective voice in the East Sea issue and call on relevant parties to not use force or threaten to use force, settle disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, respect diplomatic and legal processes, adhere to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and work to soon finalise a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

He stressed that in a fluid world today, no countries, regardless of big or small, rich or poor, can unilaterally deal with traditional and non-traditional security challenges effectively.

To tackle those challenges, OIF countries and the entire international community must unite and closely cooperate with one another, he noted.

Vietnam is ready to be a bridge linking the OIF and ASEAN, as well as the Asia-Pacific, so as to join hands for peace, stability and sustainable development, the leader added.

In his speech, on behalf of the Vietnamese State and people, he also sent the deepest condolences to the State and people of Cuba on the passing-away of leader Fidel Castro.

The 16th Francophonie Summit attracted presidents, prime ministers and senior leaders of 80 OIF member countries, along with representatives of many international and regional organisations.-VNA