Viet Nam, France elevate ties to comprehensive strategic partnership

The decision was made on Monday in Paris during the talks between General Secretary amd President To Lam and French President Emmanuel Macron.

To Lam, who is on a two-day official visit to France, reiterated that Viet Nam always attaches importance to the Viet Nam-France strategic partnership, congratulating France on its successful organization of the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, and especially 19th Francophonie Summit.

He highly appraised the recent visit by French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu to Viet Nam to attend the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, noting that it demonstrates a spirit of respect for history and a commitment to a shared future.

The top Vietnamese leader suggested France would soon complete the process of ratifying the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and push for the European Commission' removal of the "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood exports.

To hailed France's pioneering and leading role in climate change adaption, expressing his wish that the two sides will continue to work together in developing ecosystem-based models on the basis of ensuring harmony of interests.

Macron, for his part, emphasized that this is the first official visit of a top Vietnamese leader to France over the last 22 years, asserting that the upgrade of the relations is suitable with the cooperation framework and the aspirations of their peoples.

He expressed his sympathies over the huge consequences caused by Typhoon Yagi, affirming France's support for Viet Nam's recovery efforts.

Macron said he will urge the French Parliament to soon approve the EVIPA and spoke highly of Viet Nam's commitment to the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and green transition initiatives.

The two leaders expressed their satisfactions at the active development in the bilateral ties, especially in terms of politics, diplomacy, security-defense, trade-investment, and education.

They vowed to increase all-level delegation exchanges, especially high-ranking ones via Party, State and parliament channels.

Cooperation in defense and security is one of crucial pillars in the bilateral ties, noted the leaders, underlining the need to effectively implement signed agreements and soon organize the security and defense strategic dialogue.

Both sides pledged to enhance coordination in officer training, and experience sharing in crime prevention and support each other at regional and international security forums.

Regarding economic and trade ties, the two leaders agreed to continue promoting preferential loans and official development assistance loans for Viet Nam and encourage business circles to make full use of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The two sides agreed to intensify cooperation in fields of France's advantages such as infrastructure, aerospace, science and technology, renewable energy, and hydrogen energy.

It is necessary to enhance cooperation in new areas such as aerospace, artificial intelligence, and airport traffic infrastructure as well as promote the training of high-quality human resources and create opportunities for Vietnamese students to study in France with more scholarships, the two leaders agreed.

They vowed to step up collaboration in ecological and circular agriculture, and enhance trilateral cooperation between Viet Nam, France, and global south countries to ensure global food security.

Both leaders hailed ASEAN's central role in the region and pledged to continue promoting the relationship between France and ASEAN and between EU and ASEAN.

They vowed to advocate each other at multilateral forums and international organizations such as the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the ASEAN-EU cooperation framework, the Francophone community, and the United Nations.

Macron stressed that France highly appreciated Viet Nam's stance on ending violence, easing tensions, and calling on all parties to resolve conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other regions by peaceful means and in accordance with international law.

Regarding the East Sea issue, both sides highlighted the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation, and addressing disputes peacefully in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

The occasion, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation deals between the two countries in such areas as diplomacy, culture, education, transportation, and internal affairs./.