A panel discussion on increasing cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities in support projects, volunteer mobilisation, and post-pandemic medical and economic recovery took place in Hanoi on April 14 as part of the ongoing 12th Vietnam-France decentralised cooperation conference.
Anne de Soucy, Director of Partnerships at the French Development Agency ADF, speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – A panel discussion on increasingcooperation between Vietnamese and French localities in support projects,volunteer mobilisation, and post-pandemic medical and economic recovery took place in Hanoi on April 14 as part of the ongoing 12th Vietnam-Francedecentralised cooperation conference.
Morgane Millon from the French Ministry for Europe andForeign Affairs informed participants on the ministry’s two main tools to support cooperationprojects between localities – a funding raising activity and a programme thatcertifies local strengths.
The ministry can grant Vietnamese localities total fundingof 50% of a project’s cost, with accepted projects being small andhuman-related in training, community awareness raising, citizenship, andinternational cooperation, she said, adding that many localities of Vietnamhave obtained this aid.
Anne de Soucy, Director of Partnerships at the FrenchDevelopment Agency ADF, said the agency is sponsoring three projects in Hanoiand one in Binh Dinh.
In addition to financial support, AFD also assists inrecruiting leading industry experts for Vietnam, she noted, pledgingher best support for cooperation programmes with Vietnam.
Gildas Tresguler, General Secretary of the France-Vietnam Medical Federation, highlighted the countries’ collaboration in the field of medicine despiteCOVID-19 and hoped the sides will engage in stronger cooperation in the time tocome.
Vice Chairman of the Can Tho People’s Committee Nguyen VanHong said the Mekong Delta city has cooperated with the French city of Nice in culture,tourism, education and health; and with La Seyne-sur-Mer in industry,aquaculture, tourism, health, and education.
According to Hong, in 2022, Can Tho exports 18.98 millionUSD worth of goods to France. It houses two French-funded ODA projects togethervalued at 55.83 million EUR.
Cooperation between Vietnamese and French communities dateback to the 1990s. The conference has been held every two or three years since1996, with Vietnamese and French localities taking turns to host the event. Itis a chance for both sides to discuss difficulties, evaluate results, and deliver feasible solutions to foster partnerships, thus strengthening the diplomatic ties between the twocountries./.
Vietnam and France have witnessed win-win cooperation in vocational training, and partnerships among localities of the two nations in the field are being seen as a new direction in decentralised cooperation between the two countries.
Cooperation between Vietnam and France as well as between localities of the two countries were spotlighted at a photo exhibition which opened at Melia Hotel in Hanoi on April 14.
France is the only country with which Vietnam shares a mechanism of periodic and rotating conferences on localities’ cooperation, affirmed Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung at the opening of the 12th Vietnam-France decentralised cooperation conference in the capital city on April 14.
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.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Anne de Soucy, Director of Partnerships at the French Development Agency ADF, speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA) 
