Vietnamese NA Chairman, Macron Agree to Strengthen Parliamentary Cooperation and Strategic Ties
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday afternoon as part of the French leader’s ongoing three-day state visit to Vietnam, affirming both countries’ shared commitment to strengthening bilateral and parliamentary cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Chairman Mẫn underscored the significance of Macron’s visit, noting that since the elevation of ties in October 2024, Vietnam–France relations have witnessed vigorous development across all sectors. He highlighted the remarkable progress in economic, trade, and investment cooperation, calling these domains foundational to the partnership.
France currently stands as Vietnam’s third-largest trading partner within the European Union and is the second-largest EU investor in the country, with 723 active investment projects. Despite these notable gains, Chairman Mẫn acknowledged room for further expansion and proposed enhancing cooperation in key emerging sectors such as green economy, digital transformation, high technology, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, smart urban development, sustainable agriculture, and trilateral development initiatives.
President Macron congratulated Vietnam on its socioeconomic achievements and expressed optimism that his visit would pave the way for new avenues of cooperation, particularly in areas such as strategic infrastructure, renewable energy, transportation, and logistics. He highlighted the importance of the Vietnamese National Assembly in promoting multifaceted ties and proposed intensifying inter-parliamentary cooperation, especially in supporting the ratification and implementation of key bilateral agreements.
Macron affirmed France’s commitment to expediting ratification procedures for the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and acknowledged Vietnam’s efforts in addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices. He pledged to engage with the European Commission to support the early removal of the “yellow card” on Vietnamese seafood exports.
Both sides recognised the vital role of parliamentary diplomacy in reinforcing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They agreed to maintain regular exchanges between legislative delegations through mechanisms such as the Vietnam–France and France–Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Groups, and to bolster cooperation at international parliamentary forums, including the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) and the Francophone parliamentary framework.
Chairman Mẫn praised the high-level legislative exchanges throughout 2024, especially those focused on institutional reform, green transition, and digital economic development. He also commended the Vietnamese community in France for its positive contributions to bilateral relations. President Macron echoed this sentiment, noting the active role of Vietnamese-origin parliamentarians in the French legislature and expressing support for greater community integration.
On regional and international issues, both leaders reiterated their commitment to ASEAN’s centrality and Việt Nam’s strategic role in the Indo-Pacific. President Macron reaffirmed France’s stance on upholding maritime freedom and security, and respect for sovereignty based on international law. The two sides stressed the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region.
Chairman Mẫn extended invitations to the Presidents of the French Senate and National Assembly to visit Vietnam. In return, President Macron invited Chairman Mẫn to attend the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF) scheduled to be held in France in July 2025.
