French Minister of Justice and Deputy Governor of Yves Bossuyt Didier Migaud and French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet welcome General Secretary and President To Lam at Orly Airport in Paris, October 3, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

This is the first time the top Vietnamese leader has attended the Francophonie Summit and is the first visit to France by a Vietnamese President in 22 years.

A bridge connecting the Francophone community to the region

Vietnam and the Francophone community have developed a good relationship over the years. Vietnam has been an active member of the community with commitments to supporting multilateralism, sustainable development goals, climate change response, and practical activities in other fields. Vietnam has participated in Francophone activities like building economic-trade-investment and cultural cooperation strategies, and maintaining peace, security, and stability.

French language teaching has been promoted in Vietnam. The Francophone community values Vietnam’s role and always makes Vietnam the center of its cooperation activities in the Asia-Pacific region.

“In Vietnam, French has been used quite well. The International Organization of Francophonie has high regard for the Asia-Pacific region with priority goals that include promoting the French language. Our long-term goal is to use French to expand cooperation with Vietnam and the region in culture, education, economics, and other fields,” Vanissa Barak, former Director of the Francophone Asia-Pacific Office in Hanoi, said.

The first-ever attendance at a Francophonie Summit by a Vietnamese Party leader and President reflects Vietnam’s respect for the International Organization of Francophonie and its member countries. During the Summit, General Secretary and President Lam will hold bilateral meetings with the heads of several Francophone member countries.

Vietnamese diplomats in France welcome General Secretary and President To Lam at Orly Airport in Paris. (Photo: VNA)

Deepening Vietnam-France strategic partnership

On this occasion, the Vietnamese top leader is paying an official visit to France. France and Vietnam are committed to strengthening their long-standing relationship. France is Vietnam’s 4th-largest trading partner and the EU’s leading ODA provider for Vietnam. Bilateral trade turnover has increased 42% in the past decade, reaching nearly 3 billion USD in the first 7 months of 2024.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang said the two countries will identify major orientations and create frameworks to open a new chapter for bilateral relations by focusing on improving the efficiency of cooperation mechanisms, deepening political, defense, security, and economic-trade-investment cooperation. Science and technology, innovation, high-tech cooperation, and technology transfer will receive special attention.

“The two countries will cooperate in areas where France has strengths and Vietnam has needs, such as aerospace, energy transition, climate change response, and green economic development,” said Ambassador Thang.

Vietnam and France have opportunities to expand and improve cooperation to boost their economic growth and contribute to global peace.

The political determination of the leaders and the support of their peoples will create new momentum for the relationship and help the two countries to continue to enhance their strength and position in a rapidly changing world.