VOVNews: What’s your evaluation of Vietnam’s role and position in Francophone?
Mr Lessard: Vietnam was the central pole of the Indochina region and continues to be very important for Francophony in Asia. The country is the centre development of Francophone in Asia. The OEF’s regional headquarters and the Francophony University and other Francophone organisations are located here. Vietnam has an influential role in the region and history of the region.
VOVNews: As an active member of Francophone, what are Canada’s initiatives to promote co-operation among Francophone member countries in general and with Vietnam in particular?
Mr Lessard: Canada has been an active member of the Francophony community since 1960 and it is a funding member of Francophony. It pushed for the creation of Francophone institutions and organisations, for example the Francophony University. A lot of Canadian people work for the organisations. There is one only more important member in term of funding and participations, which is France.
Canada tries to advance Francophone value and promotes peace, human rights and democracy, education in French and sustainable development among Francophone members. Francophony is not just to promote the language but also for other purposes. Francophony is not a language organisation. Language is very important in Francophony but it is more than just the language. It is a political and diplomatic organisation.
Canada actively helped Vietnam organise the Franphony Summit in Hanoi in 1997 and continues political dialogues with the Government of Vietnam to advance the value of co-operation projects and programmes.
Canada finances Francophone organisations through the central headquarters and then the organisation decides how to allocate the funding. Each year a maximum of 10 Vietnamese students are selected to go and study in Canada at the Francophone University as well as five other college students so in total 15 Vietnamese students can go to Canada to study French language. This may not be enough compared to the demand for such education but it helps to improve the situation.
VOVNews: APEC summit will be held in Vietnam late this year. How will Canada participate in the event? Can you share your experience to help Vietnam organise the summit successfully?
Mr Lessard: We have already started co-operating with Vietnam and have a regional programme to help Vietnam join the WTO. We know that your country hopes to hold the APEC Summit as a full member of WTO.
We sent a large high-ranking delegation to attend the preparatory APEC Summit in Hanoi late February.
At previous summits we transmitted to the Vietnamese Government all our information concerning how to organise the summit and Vietnam can learn and draw benefits from the documents. When Prime Minister Phan Van Khai visited Canada, he asked Canada to more directly support the organisation of the summit and we sent APEC officials here to identify the best ways to support Vietnam.
VOVnews: What do you think of the changes occurring in Vietnam?
Mr Lessard: I was in the south of Vietnam in 1973 as a young guest of the diplomatic delegation.
Vietnam has made a lot of progresses in the central, north and south. Vietnam is now a united country with a common vision.
The most interesting thing in the country is the Vietnamese people. In 1973, the population in Vietnam was around 45 million, now the population of the country is 83 million. The population has multiplied by two after just over 30 years. Vietnamese people are young, humorous, hard-working and willing to look at the future to make the best choices. Vietnam is fascinating country in its geography and climate and is a beautiful and fascinating place. Something is happing rapidly here and the changes are all very good.
VOVNews: Thank you very much.
