A Vietnamese man has received a prestigious medal given by the French government, according to a press release issued Tuesday by the Embassy of France in Vietnam.

French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Noel Poirier awarded the National Order of Merit, one of France’s most prestigious medals, to Tran Binh Minh, director of the national TV station Vietnam Television (VTV).

Minh, 56, was honored for his great contribution to the relationship between France and Vietnam, especially in the audio-visual sector through several training activities which were organized by VTV in collaboration with Canal France International, the French operator in media cooperation.

K+, a joint venture between France-based Canal+ Overseas, which holds a 49 percent stake in the company, and VTV, which owns the remaining 51 percent, is another example that indicates the successful relationship between Vietnam and France as the TV operator attracts millions of viewers each day.

The channel, which was launched in January 2010, was the first – and remains the only – foreign-invested company allowed to penetrate Vietnam's audio-visual market.

The collaboration between the Vietnamese and French organizations is also thanks to the cooperation between their two governments, which are now on good terms after a difficult past, Minh said.

The National Order of Merit is an order of the State awarded by the President of the French Republic, which was founded in 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle to reward French and foreign nationals for distinguished achievements.

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