Over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Vietnam and France have achieved many important achievements. On the occasion of the French National Day on July 14, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet gave an interview about the relationship between the two countries.

Clarifying the significance of France's National Day, Ambassador Olivier Brochet stated that July 14th commemorates the storming of the Bastille (1789), marking the end of the old regime in France. A year later, on July 14th, 1790, the "Republic Festival" took place, symbolizing the unity of the French people under a new regime.

French Ambassador Olivier Brochet giving an interview. Photo: Pham Hai

"This holiday is celebrated all over the world . And in Vietnam, we also celebrate it with a very special meaning, honoring friendship and providing an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between our two countries over the past five decades," the Ambassador shared.

This year, the Embassy will celebrate French National Day on the same scale as before the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We are delighted to welcome Vietnamese guests from the diplomatic corps, government agencies, major businesses, and the French community in Vietnam. In addition, there will be a surprise: a Vietnamese singer will perform French songs in both French and Vietnamese. I'm sharing this information to create a surprise on the day," the Ambassador revealed.

3 KEY WORDS IN VIETNAMESE-FRENCH RELATIONS

Regarding the special relationship between Vietnam and France, Ambassador Olivier Brochet summarized it with three keywords: Friendship - Partnership - Trust .

The friendship between the two countries, forged over a long and complex history spanning ups and downs, is what makes their relationship so special. Both countries cherish this unique bond, demonstrating this through their shared perspective on the past, even the most tragic periods, with calmness and goodwill, in order to move towards a brighter future.

In May 2024, the French Minister of the Armed Forces visited Dien Bien Phu to attend the 70th anniversary celebration of the historic victory. More recently, during a visit to Vietnam, President Macron and General Secretary To Lam planted a friendship tree in the grounds of the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site, near Ba Dinh Square – where 80 years ago, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence.

The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is the most important achievement of General Secretary To Lam's visit to France in October 2024. France and Vietnam have coordinated smoothly to implement cooperation in the areas outlined in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Declaration , which has been realized through a series of documents signed during the recent visit of the French President to Vietnam.

General Secretary To Lam met with French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Vietnam in May. Photo: Pham Hai

The ambassador stated that the 30 documents cover all areas of bilateral cooperation. Notable examples include agreements on defense, with a letter of intent to enhance cooperation between the two Defense Ministers; sustainable development, with cooperation on energy transition, transportation infrastructure development, especially railway transport; innovation, including healthcare; and an intergovernmental agreement on scientific research.

Trust and confidence are key; it is no coincidence that Vietnam was chosen as President Macron's first destination on his Southeast Asia tour. This demonstrates the special respect and high regard the President has for Vietnam. The President wants to share his views on the international situation with Vietnam and promote a cooperative relationship based on trust.

Trade has always been one of the main pillars, reflecting the depth and substantive effectiveness of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Ambassador Olivier Brochet informed that, in the context of a volatile global economy, bilateral trade between Vietnam and France continues to maintain a positive growth trend, both in terms of product structure and cooperation potential.

French exports to Vietnam have also increased, and Vietnamese exports to France have grown significantly. The main items that France exports to Vietnam are primarily aviation products, medical supplies, and pharmaceuticals.

In Southeast Asia, only two countries have free trade agreements with the European Union, including Vietnam (EVFTA). Olivier Brochet believes this is an important agreement because it aims for a balance for both Vietnam and the European Union.

The ambassador emphasized: "We also hope that this agreement will not be negatively affected by other trade agreements signed under unfavorable conditions. And most importantly, both sides need to continue to fully implement the commitments in the EVFTA, which have been ensured so far."

However, he also cautioned against non-tariff barriers. He argued that if these barriers are applied without transparency, they could undermine the true value of the agreement.

French businesses are eager to collaborate with Vietnam on strategic projects, committing not only to providing the best technology but also to assisting Vietnam in training technology professionals and experts.

French President Emmanuel Macron interacts with students at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology during his visit to Vietnam in May. Photo: Pham Hai

Speaking at the University of Science and Technology, President Macron gave a speech outlining the future of bilateral relations and the role of the younger generation. France also offers scholarship programs for Vietnamese students, making Vietnam the third-largest recipient of French government scholarships in the world.

Vietnam aims to become a high-income country by 2045. The Ambassador highly appreciates the goals and high determination that Vietnam has set, because this is a legitimate need to develop the country and improve people's lives. France fully supports Vietnam in realizing these goals.

The ambassador highlighted several outstanding sustainable development projects that France has supported and collaborated on with Vietnam, such as the Nhon - Hanoi Station metro line 3 project and the Ho Chi Minh City metro line 1 project, which bring convenience to the people and help Vietnam in its sustainable transition process.

People travel on the Nhon - Hanoi Station metro line. Photo: Hoang Ha

He affirmed that the projects have been implemented very successfully, meeting the expectations of many people, and that many French officials visiting Vietnam have toured these projects.

"We hope that the underground section will also be completed as soon as possible, and that the extension project of this metro line will also be implemented and completed soon to serve the people of Hanoi."

"We are also closely monitoring the bidding process for upcoming metro lines in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and are particularly interested in all projects related to the railway development system in Vietnam, including high-speed rail lines," the Ambassador said.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited and worked with the French National Railways Corporation in Paris. Photo: VNA.

During his working visit to France in June, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the French National Railways Corporation (SNCF). The Prime Minister requested that France and SNCF continue to cooperate, share experiences, transfer technology, provide financial support, and train human resources, contributing to the development of the railway industry in Vietnam.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/phap-dac-biet-quan-tam-cac-du-an-metro-duong-sat-toc-do-cao-cua-viet-nam-2420999.html