PARIS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- French President Francois Hollande met visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung here on Wednesday, welcoming a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries, the French presidency said in a statement.

　　Hollande hailed such a kind of partnership, saying it will strengthen the bilateral ties and promote cooperation in all dimensions.

　　The signing of the strategic partnership coincided with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and Vietnam.

　　The 2013-2014 France-Vietnam-year will be an opportunity to concretely implement priorities between the two countries, said Hollande.

　　He also discussed with the Vietnamese prime minister international and regional issues, stressing the importance of Vietnam as a partner of France in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia.

　　French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault also met with the Vietnamese prime minister on the same day.

　　During Dung's three-day visit, the two countries will sign eight memoranda of understanding on cooperation in areas of banking, health, aerospace, ground transportation and energy, according to the statement.