AFD celebrates 30 years of accompanying Vietnam for sustainable development goals

On the afternoon of October 24, in Hanoi, the French Embassy and the French Development Agency (AFD) held a meeting with the press and development partners, celebrating 30 years of AFD accompanying Vietnam on the path to sustainable development.

Meeting with the press and development partners on October 24, celebrating 30 years of AFD accompanying Vietnam on the path to sustainable development. (Photo: Do ​​Quyen)

The event, chaired by French Ambassador Olivier Brochet, introduced the achievements of cooperation over the past three decades and new directions of cooperation in the fields of energy, climate and sustainable urban areas.

Over the past three decades, AFD has become one of Vietnam's most important bilateral development partners, with a total committed capital of more than 3.3 billion Euros for 120 projects across the country.

Since its first agricultural programs in the 1990s, AFD has expanded its cooperation to many key areas such as transport infrastructure, clean energy, biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation. Nearly one-third of Vietnam’s population has directly or indirectly benefited from these programs, which is a testament to the strong, substantive and effective cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, French Ambassador Olivier Brochet affirmed: “Thirty years of cooperation between Vietnam and AFD is a vivid demonstration of long-term commitment, based on trust and a common vision of sustainable development. France always considers Vietnam an important strategic partner in Southeast Asia, where development cooperation is not only about support, but also about sharing knowledge, technology and responsibility for the common planet.”

French Ambassador Olivier Brochet speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: Do ​​Quyen)

The Ambassador emphasized that in the context of the two countries having just upgraded their relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2024), development cooperation has a special significance. This is a field of long-term sustainability, contributing to concretizing the common commitment of Vietnam and France on global issues, especially climate change response and equitable energy transition.

Since 2019, AFD has been accompanying Vietnam in the transition towards a low-carbon economy , in line with the commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Through the “Team Europe” initiative, AFD synchronously mobilizes resources from non-refundable aid, preferential loans to technical assistance, to enhance green transformation and inclusive development.

Speaking to the Vietnamese press, AFD Country Director in Vietnam Julien Seillan said: "For each cooperation project, we always have specific evaluation reports, which are publicly announced on AFD platforms so that stakeholders can monitor the results and impact of each activity."

He said that on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the cooperation relationship between Vietnam and AFD, the agency had a "journey back to the source", revisiting many projects implemented 10 or 20 years ago. "It is great to see that these projects not only still exist but also continue to be effective, bringing practical benefits to the people and the community. That is a clear demonstration of the sustainability of the cooperation efforts between the two sides," he said.

AFD Country Director in Vietnam Julien Seilla speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: Do ​​Quyen)

In his sharing, Mr. Seillan emphasized that: “Vietnam is entering a new development phase with many major challenges, especially in the process of energy transition, climate change response and sustainable urban infrastructure development. In response to that requirement, AFD plays the role not only as a financial sponsor but also as a companion partner, providing technical support, capacity building, and co-developing new tools to help Vietnam effectively implement large-scale projects.

In the field of urban transport, AFD pays special attention to supporting Vietnam in reducing carbon emissions and promoting green and sustainable public transport. One of the typical projects is the urban railway line No. 3 in Hanoi , a clear demonstration of AFD's commitment to supporting local authorities and the State of Vietnam in developing modern, environmentally friendly transport infrastructure that brings long-term benefits to the people.

From its role as a bilateral development finance institution, AFD has now become a reliable strategic partner of Vietnam on its journey to sustainable development. Thirty years of cooperation is a testament to a relationship built on trust, sharing and joint action for long-term development goals.

Over the past three decades, AFD has become one of Vietnam's most important bilateral development partners. (Photo: Do ​​Quyen)

The October 24 anniversary not only marks a journey of three decades of effective cooperation, but also affirms the common commitment of Vietnam and France in the new period, together promoting sustainable development, green transformation and moving towards the goal of carbon neutrality, achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/afd-ky-niem-30-nam-dong-hanh-cung-viet-nam-vi-muc-tieu-phat-trien-ben-vung-332141.html