Ceremony celebrates 50-year Vietnam-France diplomatic ties
The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association on November 27 held a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations (1973-2023).
French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)🧸 – The Vietnam Union of FriendshipOrganisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association onNovember 27 held a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations (1973-2023).
Representatives from Vietnamese agencies, ministries, andorganisations and the French Embassy in Vietnam, French organisations, andbusinesses attended the event. Speaking at the ceremony, VUFO President Phan Anh Son saidthat for years, the Governments and people of Vietnam and France alwaystreasured and constantly cultivated the two countries’ relations in all fieldsand at all levels. He emphasised that during the past 50 years, along with theParty's and State’s foreign affairs activities, people-to-people exchanges havemade practical contributions to strengthening mutual understanding, promotingdiverse and effective cooperation in all fields, and creating a solid foundationfor bilateral relations to develop. Nguyen Thuy Anh, President of the Vietnam-France Friendshipand Cooperation Association, said that France has been not only Vietnam’s leadingeconomic and trade partner in Europe and the largest European donor to Vietnam fordecades, but also the country with which Vietnam has the most vibrantpeople-to-people exchanges, she said, adding that medicine, education, science, technology, culture, andtourism are areas where the people of the two countries have been cultivating astrong and cohesive relationship. French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet appreciated therole of the VUFO, the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association,and friendship organisations of the two countries in organising many foreignaffairs activities that help consolidate and develop the friendship,solidarity, and cooperation between the two nations over the past years.
He affirmed he is willing to support and create favourableconditions for strengthening people-to-people exchanges between the twocountries.
✱ At the celebration, participants enjoyed some famous Frenchmusic performances staged by Vietnamese artists and students./.
Over the past 50 years, since Vietnam and France established their diplomatic relations, cultural cooperation has contributed to creating favourable conditions to promote their cooperation in various fields, strengthening the friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said on November 17 when meeting French Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak in Paris.
Members from foreign representative agencies in Ho Chi Minh City attended a 'pho' (noodle soup) cooking class under the guidance of chefs from the Saigon Professional Chefs Association (SPC) on November 23.
Vietnamese artists have received the Francophone Economic Forum (FFA) awards for their works at the exhibition of arts and handicrafts of the Francophone community held in Paris from November 24-26.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA) 
