Paris, October 08, 2024 – The Europe Today: Vietnam and France have officially upgraded their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a significant milestone in their diplomatic history. The announcement was made during talks between Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on October 7, local time. With this upgrade, France becomes the first European Union (EU) country to establish this high-level partnership with Vietnam, joining seven other nations including China, Russia, and the United States.
The two leaders emphasized the importance of aligning major strategies and implementing concrete measures to ensure the deepening of this partnership in the new context of Vietnam-France cooperation. Both sides agreed that this elevation reflects the mutual respect and long-standing ties between the two nations.
President Lâm congratulated France and President Macron on the successful hosting of the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 19th Francophonie Summit in October. Macron, in turn, congratulated Lâm on his recent election and expressed his appreciation for Vietnam’s participation in the Francophonie Summit. He also offered his condolences for the losses Vietnam suffered due to Typhoon Yagi and pledged France’s support in recovery efforts.
Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation
During their discussions, the leaders agreed to enhance the exchange of high-level delegations across Party, State, Government, and National Assembly channels. They also reaffirmed their commitment to furthering defense-security cooperation, describing it as a critical pillar of the bilateral relationship. Existing cooperation agreements will be implemented more effectively, with both sides aiming to hold the Vietnam-France Defence Strategy and Cooperation Dialogue in the near future. They also pledged to support joint training programs for military officers and to share expertise in crime prevention and global security.
President Lâm praised French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s recent visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory, highlighting the symbolic significance of the visit and its demonstration of shared historical respect and future-oriented cooperation.
Economic and Trade Relations
Economic and trade cooperation between the two nations continues to thrive, with both leaders pledging to promote the full potential of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and expand concessional loans and Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Vietnam. President Lâm urged France to expedite the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), while also seeking France’s support in lifting the “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood exports. Macron confirmed his commitment to advocate for the agreement’s ratification in the French Parliament.
The leaders also discussed green energy cooperation, with Macron praising Vietnam’s commitment to the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and its broader environmental goals. Both countries aim to deepen collaboration in renewable energy, infrastructure, aerospace, artificial intelligence, and hydrogen energy.
Enhancing Human Resources and Agriculture Collaboration
Both sides emphasized the importance of cooperation in education and training, agreeing to provide more scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in France. They also pledged to collaborate on ecological and circular agriculture projects, promoting trilateral partnerships between Vietnam, France, and developing countries to ensure global food security. Vietnam’s efforts to combat climate change were also recognized, with President Lâm praising France’s leadership role in environmental protection.
Diplomatic and Multilateral Engagement
Both leaders affirmed their support for ASEAN’s central role in regional affairs and agreed to continue promoting France-ASEAN and EU-ASEAN relations. They committed to backing each other at multilateral forums, including the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEAN-EU cooperation framework, the Francophonie, and the United Nations.
President Macron expressed France’s appreciation for Vietnam’s stance on resolving global conflicts through peaceful means and dialogue, particularly in relation to ongoing tensions in Ukraine and the Middle East. On the East Sea (South China Sea) issue, both leaders stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation, urging the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Future Cooperation and Macron’s Visit to Vietnam
President Lâm extended an invitation to President Macron to visit Vietnam, which was graciously accepted. During Lâm’s visit to France, numerous cooperation agreements were signed in fields such as diplomacy, culture, education, transportation, and internal affairs, further solidifying the comprehensive partnership between the two nations.
This landmark visit and the upgrading of bilateral relations signify a new chapter in the Vietnam-France relationship, fostering deeper cooperation in key areas and strengthening the bonds between the two countries.
