Joint Statement on promoting implementation of Viet Nam-France Comprehensive Stratetic Partnership

At the invitation of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, To Lam, paid an official visit to France from September 10 to 11, 2026. On this occasion, General Secretary and President To Lam also attended the International Space Summit held in Paris.

This marks the third engagement between the two Leaders in nearly two years, testifying to the dynamism of bilateral relations and the high importance Viet Nam and France attach to the full implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, which was elevated during the visit to France by General Secretary and President To Lam in October 2024.

Exchanges between the two Leaders reaffirmed a high level of mutual trust as well as broad alignment in perspectives and interests between the two countries regarding sovereignty, sustainable marine economic development, and the promotion of multilateralism. In the spirit of the addresses delivered at the Shangri-La Dialogue by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, in May 2025 and by General Secretary and President To Lam in May 2026, Viet Nam and France share the aspiration to work with partners from the European Union and ASEAN, as well as other close partners in Europe and Asia, to uphold the principles of open international trade and a rules-based international order, oppose power politics as well as any threat or use of force contrary to international law. To enhance the resilience of their respective societies, both Leaders called for fostering a spirit of independence and cooperative goodwill. This serves as the foundational basis for the 2026–2028 Action Plan to implement the Viet Nam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, the adoption of which was warmly welcomed by the two Leaders.

Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the Global Stage

In a deeply unstable world marked by escalating crises and growing challenges to the fundamental principles of international law, Viet Nam and France reaffirm their willingness to act jointly to restore a stable and prosperous world order that fully respects international law and the United Nations Charter. This is essential to enable both nations to address the triple global crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, while ensuring global health protection and tackling sustainable development challenges. Both countries also reaffirm the importance of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms for the development of every nation.

Viet Nam and France emphasize the essential role of the United Nations in the international architecture while acknowledging the necessity of institutional reform within this organization. Both Leaders support the UN80 initiative launched by the United Nations Secretary-General. Viet Nam supports the joint initiative by France and Mexico to refrain the use of the veto in the United Nations Security Council in cases of mass atrocities.

Both sides commit to strengthening consultation and coordination in regional forums and support deeper cooperation between ASEAN and the EU. France welcomes the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the European Union and Viet Nam in January 2026. Viet Nam supports France's efforts to deepen relations with ASEAN, highly appreciates progress in the ASEAN–France Development Partnership, and supports France's proposal to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner. Viet Nam and France support closer cooperation between the European Union and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), chaired by Viet Nam in 2026.

The two Leaders also affirmed their desire to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), built upon shared attachment to the French language and in the context of the 20th Francophonie Summit to be held in Phnom Penh in November 2026. Both Leaders welcomed the hosting of this key event in Asia for the second time since the 1997 Ha Noi Summit, expressing hope that this year's Summit will help promote the world's fourth most spoken language across the region, promising numerous opportunities for economic and cultural cooperation. Both sides pledge to promote cooperation within the Francophone community, including in education and training, as well as science and technology.

Viet Nam and France reaffirm the importance of maintaining peace, security, and stability in the East Sea (Biển Đông) and full compliance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Both countries emphasize that UNCLOS sets out the comprehensive legal framework governing all activities in the oceans and seas. Both countries support the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes, strongly oppose any acts threatening or using force contrary to international law, and reaffirm the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded trade, and the right of innocent passage in the East Sea and worldwide. Both countries support regional efforts to build an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in conformity with international law, particularly UNCLOS.

Viet Nam and France call on relevant parties to swiftly initiate negotiations to end hostilities and achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine, in accordance with international law and based on the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. Viet Nam and France reaffirm their readiness to participate in international efforts and coordinate closely with relevant parties to foster dialogue, seek a peaceful resolution to end the ongoing conflict, and support the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Viet Nam and France reaffirm the paramount importance of respecting the political independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of all nations.

The Leaders of both countries expressed deep concern over the grave situation in the Near and Middle East. Both Leaders call on all parties to de-escalate, exercise restraint, and pursue a diplomatic resolution to ongoing conflicts.

The two Leaders reaffirm their commitment to freedom of navigation through straits used for international navigation worldwide, call for the restoration of safe, continuous, and unimpeded transit for ships and aircraft through the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with international law as reflected in UNCLOS. France recalled the French-British initiative on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which Viet Nam attended at its kick-off meeting.

Viet Nam and France express concern over the situation in Gaza, Jerusalem, the West Bank, and other ongoing conflict hotspots in the Middle East, while reiterating their commitment to a two-State solution—the only solution capable of meeting the legitimate aspirations for peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis. Both Leaders call on all parties to immediately cease escalating actions, rigorously enforce agreed ceasefires, and establish lasting ceasefires to facilitate diplomatic solutions in Gaza, Lebanon, and other Middle East hotspots, while respecting international law and the UN Charter, including the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, for the peace and stability of the region and the world.

Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through Concrete and Structural Bilateral Projects

Against the backdrop of global economic restructuring, the two Leaders reaffirm their resolve to foster trusted, mutually beneficial economic partnerships, enhance supply chain resilience, and promote sustainable investment in strategic sectors, thereby contributing to regional peace, stability, and development, as well as global economic security. Both Leaders welcomed the Viet Nam–France Business Leaders Forum, which they jointly attended, and highlighted the following priorities:

1. Viet Nam and France will strengthen defense cooperation, prioritizing defense industry and defense technology collaboration tailored to the needs and interests of each country. To support Viet Nam's autonomy in this field, both Leaders encourage competent agencies and enterprises of both countries to accelerate cooperation. Viet Nam and France welcome expanded cooperation in peacekeeping operations and in historical and wartime memory sharing.

2. Viet Nam and France support enhancing security cooperation and training in combating organized, transnational crime, illegal immigration, and human trafficking, as well as in implementing the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime signed in Ha Noi in October 2025. Both countries welcome cooperation in the civil security industrial sector, particularly through coordinated efforts to enhance airborne operational capabilities. Both sides commit to strengthening information exchange in crime prevention and developing cooperation in civil defense, notably under the European Union's Global Ports Safety (GPS) project.

3. Both sides welcome the consolidation of legal and judicial cooperation, particularly between the Council of State of France (Conseil d'État) and the Ministry of Justice of Viet Nam.

4. Viet Nam and France advocate for strengthening trade relations and establishing an international environment conducive to shared prosperity. Both sides commit to the full implementation of the EU–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), including market access and intellectual property rights protection, to support balanced trade flows. Viet Nam welcomes France's progress toward ratifying the EU–Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), expected to be completed this year.

Both sides will continue close cooperation in fisheries, with France providing continued technical support to Viet Nam in combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and promoting sustainable fisheries development.

5. Both sides will further advance cooperation in science and technology as a core pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action Plan. This will be achieved through training, joint research programs, investment in research infrastructure development, and encouraging collaboration with private sector in priority areas identified under the Action Plan, starting with artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technology, digital technology, biotechnology, energy and marine technologies, and smart mobility.

6. Viet Nam and France welcome the success of the International Space Summit held in Paris on September 9–10, 2026. Both countries express their intention to cooperate on the procurement and launch of the VNREDSat-2 Earth observation satellite, supported through French financial instruments.

7. Both sides welcome the signing of the Letter of Intent on Critical Minerals, as well as the concrete implementation of this cooperation through the Trilateral Agreement on sustainable mineral resource management and geological knowledge enhancement in Viet Nam between the French Geological Survey (BRGM), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the Department of Geology and Minerals of Viet Nam.

8. Exchanges between competent authorities and businesses of both countries will be intensified to support Viet Nam in developing strategic infrastructure in energy and transport networks, particularly railways and urban transport. The Leaders particularly welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Construction of Viet Nam and Systra for the upgrade of the Ha Noi–Hai Phong railway line, a project to be supported by France. Both Leaders expressed satisfaction with the enhanced dialogue between French and Vietnamese businesses in railway transport and welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding among the Ha Noi People's Committee, the French Development Agency (AFD), and the University of Transport Technology on establishing the Railway Technology Institute.

9. Both sides welcome the continued momentum of the strategic partnership in civil aviation, marked by the signing and announcement of major commercial contracts between French and Vietnamese enterprises.

10. Building on the Viet Nam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and leveraging France's expertise and strengths in energy, both sides will deepen cooperation in this domain. In the field of nuclear energy for peaceful use, cooperation will focus on evaluating opportunities related to nuclear power generation, researching and applying advanced nuclear power technologies, ensuring nuclear safety and security, and developing human resources. Viet Nam and France will also strengthen cooperation in energy infrastructure development and technical assistance to modernize power grid operations and electricity markets, enhancing the integration of renewable energy sources.

11. Both sides support strengthening health cooperation bilaterally through the signing of a new Intergovernmental Agreement and multilaterally through continued collaboration in international forums under the "One Health" approach.

12. Both Leaders call for sustained efforts to address the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, particularly plastic pollution. The two Leaders reaffirm their commitment to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement by communicating ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and implementing commitments to phase down fossil fuels, promote low-carbon electrification, and develop low-emission and zero-emission energy sources to progressively reach carbon neutrality by 2050, while ensuring national energy security and sustainable development goals aligned with the best available science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Both countries recall the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement adopted at COP28, particularly regarding pathways for transitioning away from fossil fuels in accordance with national circumstances, development levels, and energy security requirements.

France commends Viet Nam's ambitious targets to achieve net-zero emissions and phase out coal-fired power generation by 2050. To this end, Viet Nam welcomes France's continued strong and decisive implementation of its commitments under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

13. Regarding nature conservation and biodiversity, both sides reaffirm their determination to fulfill the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Both countries recognize the vital importance of conserving and sustainably managing the oceans to achieve sustainable development goals. Both sides welcome the entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and note that the first Conference of the Parties (COP1) to the BBNJ Agreement, scheduled for January 2027, will provide an important foundation for its implementation.

Viet Nam and France welcome the hosting of the World Deltas Summit on the margins of the UN Ocean Conference and express their commitment to advancing transboundary cooperation on the Mekong River. France stands ready to support Viet Nam in ratifying the Water Convention regarding cooperation in transboundary river basins.

14. Both sides will foster people-to-people exchanges by facilitating cooperation in culture, particularly in preserving and promoting cultural heritage, artistic exchanges, and cultural industries, as well as in sports, science, and innovation. This will be supported through exchange programs for students, young researchers, doctoral candidates, and post-doctoral fellows under the new Hubert Curien (PHC Hoa Sen Lotus) Joint Science Cooperation Program. Both sides commit to continuing the effective implementation of signed agreements on education and training, particularly in supporting French language instruction in Viet Nam.

In this context, France welcomes the prospective relocation of the University of Science and Technology of Ha Noi (USTH) to its new campus in Hoa Lac by 2028, enabling the institution to rapidly grow into a regional center of academic excellence.

The two Leaders welcome France's return of a Dong Son bronze drum to Vietnamese authorities as part of their shared commitment to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property.