Promoting cooperation in agriculture, education, and climate change response between Vietnam and France.

According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in France, during their working visit to Perpignan, the capital of the Pyrénées-Orientales province in the Occitanie region of southern France, the delegation from the Vietnamese Embassy in France, led by Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang, held meetings with many key leaders of the province and city.

The visit opened up prospects for concrete cooperation in the fields of economics , education, energy transition, and sustainable development—strategic priorities for both Vietnam and France.

The delegation worked with the leaders of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of the Pyrénées-Orientales province.

During a meeting with Mr. Laurent Gauze, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of the Pyrénées-Orientales province, the two sides had an in-depth exchange on business cooperation opportunities, technology transfer, and market development. Mr. Gauze highly appreciated Vietnam's openness and dynamism, and affirmed that the cooperative relationship between CCI and Vietnamese partners has been effectively maintained over the years. According to him, the current period opens up new opportunities to expand cooperation in the fields of green economy and agricultural logistics.

For his part, Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang stated that Vietnam is strongly promoting the energy market, including the development of nuclear power, renewable energy, and improving electricity efficiency in industry and daily life. The Ambassador also highlighted the progress of Vietnam's electric vehicle industry, in which VinFast Group has demonstrated its capacity for integration and technological innovation.

On this occasion, CCI introduced Diam Bouchage, the world's second-largest cork manufacturer, which possesses technology to completely eliminate the "cork odor," a crucial factor in wine preservation. In addition, Mr. Gauze mentioned that he had met with two bottling companies and a research institute, all of whom are working with or interested in working with Vietnam on high-tech, high-quality industrial products. Mr. Gauze expressed considerable confidence in the potential for cooperation between the Pyrénées-Orientales province and Vietnam.

The delegation visited the Domaine Lafage wine production facility.

Regarding potential cooperation in agriculture and supply chains, one of the highlights of the visit was a working session at the Saint-Charles Center, Europe's largest importer and distributor of fruits and vegetables, handling over 1.8 million tons of goods annually.

CCI is interested in cooperating with Vietnam in the field of cold chain transport and fruit commercialization. Vietnamese tropical fruits such as dragon fruit, mango, and durian are popular with European consumers, but still face challenges in logistics and preservation. Saint-Charles' experience in this field could significantly help expand Vietnam's agricultural market share in Europe.

Regarding cooperation in education, training, and digital transformation, the delegation from the Vietnamese Embassy also visited School 42, a world-renowned programming training institution with 57 branches globally. Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang stated that Vietnam, with its young and dynamic workforce, is interested in this modern, hands-on training model; and expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation between School 42 and Vietnamese universities and technology companies, including FPT Group, which is expanding its presence in France.

Regarding cooperation in climate change response and sustainable development, at the meeting with the delegation, Ms. Hermine Malherbe, President of the Pyrenees-Orientales Provincial Council, expressed her desire to develop decentralized cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of social affairs, environment, and climate change response.

Ms. Malherbe noted that both sides share many similarities, particularly in agriculture. The Pyrénées-Orientales boasts a thriving agricultural sector with fruit and vegetable farming, livestock raising, fine wine production, and a tourism and leisure economy based on regional attractions. Another distinctive feature is its services: services for citizens, public services, and digital technology serving the community. Therefore, there are many elements that the two sides can explore for collaborative research.

The delegation visited the Domaine Lafage wine production facility.

In particular, regarding environmental protection and adaptation to climate change, Ms. Malherbe shared that this could be a key area of ​​future cooperation between the two sides, given that the Pyrenees-Orientales are facing severe drought and the risk of flooding in some other areas.

Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang highly appreciated this cooperation orientation, considering it an opportunity to strengthen connections between localities, businesses, and training institutions, contributing to achieving the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, a common commitment of Vietnam and the European Union (EU).

In the field of educational cooperation, according to Ms. Malherbe, the city of Perpignan in particular and the Pyrenees-Orientales province in general are ready to welcome Vietnamese students and researchers to study there. This region has many advantages to attract international students, especially a more reasonable cost of living compared to other major French cities. In addition, besides technology fields like at School 42 and other science or social science fields at the University of Perpignan, students interested in the culinary and wine service industries can study French wine.

Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang presented a commemorative gift to Mayor Louis Aliot of Perpignan.

During the working visit, Perpignan Mayor Louis Aliot welcomed the Vietnamese delegation at Pams Palace, an iconic architectural landmark of Perpignan. This was an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on cultural exchange, tourism, and heritage – areas that contribute to strengthening understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries.

The delegation also visited and learned about the winemaking process at Domaine Lafage, one of the largest traditional wineries in the Roussillon region, which is notable for its application of sustainable and regenerative farming methods, adapting to climate change such as using drought-resistant grape varieties, weather monitoring technology, and utilizing forests around the vineyards. The visit opened up many possibilities for cooperation not only in the wine industry but also in sustainable agricultural production and climate change adaptation.

With concrete exchanges and an open spirit of cooperation, the visit to Perpignan not only strengthened the traditional Vietnam-France relationship but also opened a new chapter for decentralized cooperation towards sustainable, innovative, and environmentally friendly development.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/thuc-day-hop-tac-nong-nghiep-giao-duc-va-ung-pho-bien-doi-khi-hau-giua-viet-nam-phap-20251029202741137.htm