Continue to affirm the strong development of relations between France and Vietnam

French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet answers questions from the press about the visit and cooperation between the two countries - Photo: VNA

On this occasion, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet gave an interview to the press about the contents related to the visit and cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam and France established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024. Taking place just 8 months after the two countries established diplomatic relations at the highest level, according to the Ambassador, what is the significance of the State visit to Vietnam by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife for the relationship between the two countries?

French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet: At the invitation of the leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam, President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and his wife will pay a State visit to Vietnam from May 25-27. This is a very important visit in the relationship between France and Vietnam. The visit is part of the tour to three Southeast Asian countries by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, including Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore.

The French President's visit to Southeast Asia is also within the framework of implementing France's Indo- Pacific Strategy launched in 2018, demonstrating France's desire and stronger commitment to its partners in the region, creating a partnership for stability and development.

During this visit to three Southeast Asian countries, the French President wishes to visit Vietnam first, clearly demonstrating the very special and strong relationship between France and Vietnam.

Last October, during the visit to France by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. And eight months after General Secretary To Lam’s visit, President Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming State visit to Vietnam aims to reaffirm the strong development of bilateral relations as well as the good framework of relations that the two countries have established.

We hope that during the upcoming visit to Vietnam by the French President, on the basis of a trustworthy partnership, our two countries will strongly strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in all areas, from politics to economics, scientific research, education, culture, defense as well as global challenges. We also believe that the upcoming high-level meeting between the two sides will be an opportunity to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between France and Vietnam. This will be demonstrated by very specific actions in the coming time.

With the significance and expectations of President Emmanuel Macron's upcoming visit, could the Ambassador share the agenda that the two countries' leaders will discuss, as well as the outstanding activities of the French President's visit to Vietnam?

French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet: The French President's working program in Vietnam mainly includes meetings with senior Vietnamese leaders.

In addition, President Emmanuel Macron will have a number of other activities, especially at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, also known as the Vietnam-France University. Here, the President will meet with young people and students of the Hanoi University of Science and Technology and Vietnamese students participating in other French training programs, such as the French-Vietnamese management training program at the French-Vietnamese Center for Management Education (CFVG), or the high-quality engineering training program (PFIEV). The French President will give a speech to Vietnamese youth, emphasizing the bilateral relationship as well as the future partnership between our two countries, including the role of young people as well as France's support in research, training and innovation.

The visit also includes a program that emphasizes economic cooperation between the two sides. The French President is accompanied by many Ministers on his visit to Vietnam, including the Minister of Economy and Finance as well as the Minister of the Army. This is an opportunity for the Ministers to meet with their French and Vietnamese counterparts to promote a number of cooperation projects between the two sides in the economic field as well as in the defense and security fields.

Another important topic on the agenda during this visit is the ways for France to accompany and support Vietnam in implementing the energy transition process. It is expected that a document will be signed between the French Development Agency (AFD) and the National Electricity Transmission Corporation to build a power transmission line. This project is within the framework of France's support to Vietnam in implementing the Fair Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). This is an important document in economic and political terms, because it clearly shows what France can do to accompany Vietnam in the framework of implementing the energy transition, especially in the framework of implementing JETP.

During the discussions between the French President and senior Vietnamese leaders, global issues and challenges were also mentioned. For example, in June 2025, France will host the third United Nations Ocean Summit in Nice. I understand that Vietnam will send a high-level delegation to attend this event. This is one of the topics that President Emmanuel Macron will discuss with Vietnamese leaders.

It can be said that the French President’s visit to Vietnam this time is an opportunity to affirm the strength of the relationship between our two countries, as well as the desire to enhance the relationship to a new height in the coming time. This is also an opportunity for both sides to affirm their determination to work together to build a modern, dynamic partnership with a structure and respect for the interests and sovereignty of each of our countries.

According to the Ambassador, in the coming time, what areas will the two countries focus on strengthening and deepening cooperation in?

French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet: Fields such as energy, including nuclear energy, as well as transportation or high technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) are fields in which we wish to increase priority cooperation with Vietnam in the coming time.

We see that these are areas that meet Vietnam's needs and qualifications. The French side is particularly interested in the visions that Vietnam has put forward, especially large projects to develop Vietnam's strategic infrastructure, such as the project related to Vietnam's high-speed railway. This is an area where many French enterprises have strengths.

Recently, many French delegations have visited Vietnam to better understand Vietnam's development needs. Among those visits, we can mention the visit of French Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot to Vietnam (March 2025). On this occasion, the Minister attended the Vietnam - France Workshop on High-Speed ​​Railway. We hope that these contacts will continue to open up new cooperation opportunities between the two sides.

It is known that the Ambassador has worked in Vietnam for 2 years. What is your assessment of the friendship and people-to-people exchange between the two countries? What plans and activities has the French Embassy implemented and will implement to enhance cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchange between the two countries?

French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet: The relationship between France and Vietnam is first and foremost a very strong relationship between the people and the young generations of the two countries. Over the past 30 years, there has been a great development in the connections and relations between the people of the two countries. Many Vietnamese students have gone to France to study and returned to Vietnam, maintaining cultural ties with our country. And I would say that this is the fundamental foundation that we absolutely need to maintain.

I would also like to highlight the quality of our cooperation in the cultural field. We do not only organize events that introduce French culture to Vietnam, but more importantly, we develop relationships and cooperation that allow the development of what we call the cultural and creative industries in Vietnam. This is demonstrated through France's support for major festivals such as the Hue Festival, which France has been working with Hue for the past 20 years, as well as the second Hanoi Photography Festival in a few months.

It is also all the work that has been done to help develop film and animation studios in Vietnam. Recently, for example, an agreement was signed between the Sconnect Academy of Media Arts (SAMA) (Vietnam), the French Embassy in Vietnam and Gobelins Paris, one of the world's leading animation schools.

We are also very pleased, especially from the cooperation, support, working with us, Vietnam this year has a booth at the 78th Cannes Film Festival.

Thank you very much Ambassador Olivier Brochet!

According to VNA

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/tiep-tuc-khang-dinh-su-phat-trien-manh-me-cua-quan-he-giua-phap-va-viet-nam-10225052323320122.htm