Vietnam, France Pledge Stronger Partnership to Tackle Global and Regional Challenges

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: President Lương Cường on Monday emphasized the need for Vietnam and France to harness their shared strengths to jointly address global challenges and regional issues during official talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Hanoi.

President Macron’s official visit to Vietnam from May 25–27 marks the first by a French head of state in a decade and the first since the two countries elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024. As the first European Union (EU) member to form such a partnership with Vietnam, France holds a pivotal role in Vietnam’s foreign policy, President Cường affirmed.

President Cường expressed Vietnam’s desire to deepen its multifaceted cooperation with France and voiced support for the European country’s active participation in international organizations, including the United Nations (UN) and the Francophonie. President Macron, in turn, lauded Vietnam’s rising global profile and reiterated France’s commitment to advancing cooperation in both traditional and emerging sectors.

The French President highlighted ongoing collaboration in healthcare, culture, education, agriculture, and climate change, while also stressing the potential for expanded ties in infrastructure, urban transport, aerospace, and new energy — areas aligned with the objectives of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

During the talks, the two leaders agreed to promote high-level exchanges and bolster the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms. They also committed to exploring new fields of cooperation and enhancing coordination at regional and global forums.

Both sides pledged continued implementation of agreements in defence and security, particularly in joint efforts to combat transnational crime. On this occasion, President Cường extended an invitation to senior French officials to attend the upcoming signing ceremony of the UN Cybercrime Convention, scheduled to be held in Hanoi this October.

In terms of economic collaboration, both presidents concurred on the importance of boosting trade and investment, and on the effective enforcement of the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). France will work to expedite the ratification of the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and advocate for the removal of the European Commission’s ‘yellow card’ on Vietnam’s fisheries sector — a move that would enhance Vietnam’s seafood exports to France and the wider EU market.

The two countries also committed to enhancing cooperation in science and technology, innovation, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and digital transformation. Emphasis will be placed on training high-quality human resources, supporting joint research initiatives, facilitating technology transfer, and investing in digital infrastructure.

In addition to conventional areas of partnership, Vietnam called for France’s continued support through official development assistance (ODA) and concessional loans for climate resilience and energy sector human resource development. France reaffirmed its support for Vietnam’s efforts under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

On regional and international matters, President Cường reaffirmed Vietnam’s unwavering adherence to its “four no’s” defence policy. Both leaders stressed the importance of multilateralism, with the UN playing a central role in global governance.

President Macron expressed France’s support for ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea). The two leaders reaffirmed that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the comprehensive legal framework governing maritime activities and cooperation. They underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region, resolving disputes through peaceful means, and expediting the conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS.

President Cường thanked the French government for its continued support of the Vietnamese community in France and proposed that France soon confirm the organisation of the 13th Vietnam–France Local Cooperation Conference.

Following the high-level talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of over 10 bilateral cooperation agreements, covering a wide range of fields including defence and security, archival work, justice, agriculture, environment, transportation, science and technology, peaceful use of nuclear energy, climate adaptation, repatriation of citizens, aerospace, civil aviation, electricity transmission, seaport development, and vaccine technology.

As part of the visit, President Macron also met with Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn, further reinforcing the strength and depth of the Vietnam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.