Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told visiting former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin that Vietnam highly values its relations with France, the second largest European investor in Vietnam at present. PM Dung made the statement at a reception for Villepin in Hanoi on Tuesday, during which Dung said France is also Vietnam’s third biggest trading partner with US$3.2 billion in two-way trade turnover. As Vietnam’s leading bilateral donor, France has contributed remarkably to poverty reduction and socio-economic development in Vietnam, Dung said. The PM suggested that France further assist the effective implementation of the Hanoi University of Technology project and support Vietnam conclude the Free Trade Area Agreement negotiations with the EU.  Dung promised to pave favorable ways for French investors to do long-term business in Vietnam. He also asked France to support Vietnam’s stance on settling East Sea-related disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In reply, Villepin said many French investors want to do business in Vietnam in the fields of energy, water supply and drainage, transport infrastructure, and education and training. He said the French side is looking forward to Dung’s visit to France this year to realize the bilateral strategic partnership. The same day, at a meeting with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Villepin said he believes that thanks to the bilateral cooperation efforts, the two countries will further strengthen effective links in many fields, including transport, energy, and space aviation.  Earlier, the former French Prime Minister had working sessions with Transport Minister Dinh La Thang and Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang.