French President hails Vietnam’s increasing role in international aren
French President hails Vietnam’s increasing role in international arena
French President Emmanuel Macron hailed Vietnam’s increasing role in the region and the world while hosting a reception on August 31 for Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Thiep, who came to present his credentials.
Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Thiep presents his credentials to French President Emmanuel Macron. (Photo: VNA)
Paris (VNA) – French President Emmanuel Macron hailed Vietnam’sincreasing role in the region and the world while hosting a reception on August31 for Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Thiep, who came to present his credentials.
Macron laid stress on the two countries’ similarities in benefits and stance inregional and global issues while expressing his hope to enhance Francophonecooperative ties with Vietnam.
He affirmed to pay a visit to Vietnam next year.
Ambassador Thiep, for his part, underlined that the France visit by GeneralSecretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trongin March 2018 opened a new period in the Vietnam-France strategic partnership.
Besides deepening the collaborative relations in the fields of economy-tradeand security-defence, and Francophone, the visit boosted bilateral cooperationin e-government, he added.
The diplomat said Vietnam persistently pursues its foreign policy ofindependence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, and diversification ofinternational relations, while wishing that the French President would continuesupport for Vietnam during the country’s integration and development process.
Vietnamand France established diplomatic ties on April 12, 1973, and lifted theirrelations to a strategic partnership in 2013.
France is now a leading partner of Vietnam in Europe, ranking third among theEuropean nations and 16th among the 114 countries and territories investing inVietnam. It tops the European donors in official development assistance forVietnam.
Investors from France have landed 500 projects valued at more than 2.8 billionUSD in Vietnam.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has seen positive growth, withVietnam having enjoyed continuous trade surplus since 2010.
In 2017, bilateral trade exceeded 4.6 billion USD, up 11.6 percent from theprevious year. The figure included 3.3 billion USD worth of Vietnamese exportsto France and 1.3 billion USD worth of imports from the European country, bothincreasing by over 11 percent year-on-year.
Vietnam’s key export staples to France were footwear, garments and textiles,household appliances, agro-forestry-aquatic products, gemstones, jewellery,electronics, mechanical tools, pottery, rubber, coal, plastic products, andrattan and bamboo handicrafts.
There are more than 300,000 Vietnamese living and working in France.-VNA
Vietnam and France have agreed to further expand cultural cooperation in all aspects, including new forms, to encourage more and more Vietnamese youths to study French culture and language.
Cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities is one of the pillars to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, heard a seminar in Paris on June25.
Business France and the French Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City organised the Vietnam-France forum on smart and sustainable urban areas on July 4.
French Ambassador to Vietnam Bertrand Lortholary highlighted the relations between Vietnam and France, stressing they have seen substantial progress in multiple fields, during an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of French Independence Day (July 14).
Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh on August 7 received the outgoing French Defence Attaché in Vietnam Maj. Christophe Talon and his successor Lt. Maj. Marc Razafindranaly.
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.
Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Thiep presents his credentials to French President Emmanuel Macron. (Photo: VNA) 
