Paris (VNA)ꦜ – The year 2024 marks a historic milestone in Vietnam-France relations as the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang told a Vietnam News Agency reporter based in Paris in a recent interview.

Thang highlighted the significance of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s visit to France in October, which made France the first European Union (EU) member state with such a partnership with Vietnam. This milestone not only reaffirmed mutual trust but also paved the way for new cooperation opportunities across economy, national defence, culture and education, he said. According to him, both sides have maintained regular exchanges at various levels and held periodic meetings under cooperation mechanisms, such as the 8th High-Level Dialogue on Economy and the first maritime dialogue, contributing to raising mutual understanding, solving bilateral issues, and promoting cooperation in global and regional matters. Looking ahead, Thang expressed his belief that a roadmap will soon be agreed upon to deliver on the commitments outlined in the Joint Statement regarding the elevation of Vietnam-France relations. On the economic front, France remains a crucial partner of Vietnam in Europe, with two-way trade growing significantly. French firms have made substantial investments in promising sectors in Vietnam, including high technology, renewable energy, and digital transformation. Meanwhile, Vietnamese companies are actively seeking opportunities in the French market. In the realm of defence, he noted that the Vietnam visit by the French Minister of Armed Forces in May, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, underscored Vietnam's role as a model for post-war reconciliation. Through various exchanges, both nations have committed to realising the signed agreements and expanding cooperation in peacekeeping, mine clearance, and defence exhibitions. Cultural, educational and scientific exchange events have fostered lasting connections between the youth of the two countries. Collaborative initiatives in scientific research, particularly in high-tech and innovation fields, have improved the quality of bilateral comprehensive cooperation.

In his suggestions, economic collaboration should go further, particularly in key industries like high technology, renewable energy and sustainable manufacturing. Market access and investment need to be improved to better support businesses while emerging fields like artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and environmental protection should be prioritised to keep pace with global trends.

🏅 Both sides need to transition from individual commitments to long-term strategic cooperation programmes. As a key member of the EU, France is well-positioned to support Vietnam in expanding its relations with the bloc, particularly in trade, education, and environmental protection. Vietnam should also leverage international initiatives launched by France to elevate its global standing, such as joining the AI Action Summit scheduled for February 2025 and the third United Nations Ocean Conference in June 2025, he said.

Underlining Vietnam’s strides in its relations with international organisations in France, Thang said the Southeast Asian country has played an important role in the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), advancing projects on sustainable development, digital transformation, and climate change response. Notably, Vietnam's relationship with UNESCO has been further strengthened through the successful advocacy for several key designations, helping to promote the nation's image and attract resources for development./.