Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh shakes hands with OIF Secretary-General Michaelle Jean

At his talks with Michaelle Jean, OIF Secretary-General in Hanoi on October 12, the Deputy PM said such cooperation will help strengthen the Francophone community and meet the expectations of its members. 

Minh affirmed that the OIF is an important partner of Vietnam, and suggested specific measures to lift Vietnam-OIF ties, particularly in trade with African countries, supporting startup, promoting the teaching of French and in French, and joining the UN peacekeeping mission. 

He discussed with the guest priority activities for the Francophone community in the time ahead and preparations for Vietnam’s delegation headed by President Tran Dai Quang to attend the 16th Francophone Summit in Madagascar this November. 

For her part, Michaelle Jean said the OIF is willing to support Vietnam’s economic integration as well as assist the country in encouraging startups and connecting with African businesses. 

Taking note of contributions and strong commitment of the country to the Francophone community, she said Vietnam is an important and reliable of many OIF state members in Africa. 

She praised Vietnam’s mutually beneficial and sustainable approach when carrying out joint projects in some Francophone countries. 

She affirmed that the OIF will strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in teaching French and teaching in French as well as back the participation of Vietnam in UN peacekeeping mission. 

Concerning the East Sea issue, she urged sides involved to settle disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

After their talks, Deputy PM Minh and the OIF Secretary General witnessed the signing of a partnership agreement between the IOF and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, which aims to improve French competency of Vietnamese diplomats and public servants.

OIF Secretary General visits French-language newspaper

The International Organisation of Francophone (OIF) will continue to help Le Courrier du Vietnam, a French-language newspaper of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), improve professional skills for its reporters and editors, OIF Secretary General Michaelle Jean promised.

She made the pledge while visiting the newspaper’s headquarters in Hanoi on October 12 as part of her trip to Vietnam from October 11-13. This has been the first-ever visit by an OIF Secretary General to Le Courrier du Vietnam, the only French-language newspaper in the country.

Michaelle Jean said she feels enthusiastic whenever she reads the newspaper, which has an interesting and modern format with a lot of information about a dynamic Vietnam.

VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi spoke highly of the OIF’s cooperation and support of the newspaper over the years, especially in the training of reporters and editors.

He told his guest that the Vietnamese press is operating within the framework of the Press Law. Social issues and those regarding gender equality and women’s liberation are among important topics receiving wide press coverage.

Over the past six decades, Le Courrier du Vietnam has received the enthusiastic response of both domestic and foreign readers. It has three main publications – an electronic version at lecourrier.vn, a weekly magazine and a television programme themed “French language space” on VNA’s television channel V-News.

VNA