On the morning of October 7, the official welcoming ceremony for General Secretary and President To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on an official visit to the French Republic was solemnly held at the Invalides Palace in Paris.
On the afternoon of October 7, at the Elysee Palace, General Secretary and President To Lam held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.
In an atmosphere of trust and frankness, General Secretary and President To Lam and President Macron had a comprehensive discussion on the socio-economic situation of each country, bilateral cooperation and regional and international issues of mutual concern. The two leaders expressed their delight at the positive developments in the relationship between the two countries; agreed to increase delegation exchanges at all levels, especially at high levels, through the Party, State, Government and National Assembly channels.
The two leaders agreed to declare the upgrading of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and agreed on major directions and measures to deepen the Vietnam-France comprehensive strategic partnership framework, making it more practical and suitable for the cooperation framework between the two countries in the new context. With this decision, France became the first country in the EU to have a comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam.
The two sides assessed security-defense cooperation as one of the important pillars; agreed to effectively implement signed cooperation agreements; promptly organize a Security-Defense Strategic Dialogue; coordinate and support each other in officer training, share experiences in crime prevention and combat; and support each other at regional and international security forums.
Regarding economics and trade, the two sides highly appreciated the cooperation between ministries, branches and localities of the two countries in this field; agreed to continue promoting preferential loans and ODA loans for Vietnam; encouraged agencies and businesses of the two countries to continue to fully and effectively implement the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). General Secretary and President To Lam asked France to soon complete the process of ratifying the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); highly appreciated Vietnam's efforts in transforming sustainable fisheries; and supported the EC to soon remove the yellow card for Vietnamese seafood.
President Macron affirmed that the EVFTA is an important driving force to promote economic and trade relations between the two sides; affirmed that he will soon propose that the National Assembly approve the EVIPA. The French President highly appreciated Vietnam's commitment to implementing the Fair Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and green transition. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in potential areas and areas where France has strengths such as infrastructure, aerospace, science and technology, renewable energy, hydrogen energy, etc.
Recognizing the positive results of cooperation in the fields of science and technology, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in new fields such as aerospace, artificial intelligence, and airport traffic infrastructure.
In the fields of health and education, the two sides agreed to promote training of high-quality human resources, continue to create conditions for Vietnamese students to study in France with more scholarships, and encourage people of the two countries to participate in major cultural events of each country.
Regarding agricultural cooperation, the two sides agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of ecological agriculture, circular agriculture, and tripartite cooperation between Vietnam, France and southern countries to ensure global food security. President Macron welcomed Vietnam's efforts in responding to climate change.
General Secretary and President To Lam highly appreciated France's pioneering and leading role in the fight against climate change; he hoped that the two sides would continue to cooperate in developing ecosystem-based models, enhancing the resilience to climate change of urban areas and coastal areas, especially the Mekong Delta, on the basis of ensuring harmony of interests.
President Macron highly appreciated the role of the Vietnamese community in France, considering it an important bridge between the two countries; affirmed that he will continue to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live and work in France.
Regarding multilateral cooperation, the two sides appreciated ASEAN's central role in the region; committed to continuing to promote France's relations with ASEAN as well as EU-ASEAN relations; and continued to support each other at multilateral forums and international organizations such as ASEM, the ASEAN-EU cooperation framework, Francophonie, and the United Nations.
Regarding regional and international issues, the French President emphasized that France highly appreciates Vietnam's stance on ending violence, reducing tensions and calling on parties to resolve conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, etc. by peaceful means, respecting international law. Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides reaffirmed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, and resolving disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
* Earlier, speaking at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome that the President, senior leaders and French friends had given to the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation. The General Secretary and President emphasized that after more than 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations and 11 years of strategic partnership, Vietnam-France relations have made important developments in all fields. France always holds an important position in Vietnam's foreign policy.
Immediately after the press conference, General Secretary and President To Lam and French President Emmanuel Macron witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents between Vietnam and France.
* On the morning of October 7, General Secretary and President To Lam met with President of the French National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet. The General Secretary and President suggested that the two sides continue to promote delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level ones, to create momentum to deepen cooperation in all fields.
The two leaders affirmed that they always attach importance to and wish to further deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries; agreed to bring the Vietnam-France strategic partnership framework to a new height; wished to promote cooperation and increase delegation exchanges between the two countries' National Assemblies to share experiences and improve the effectiveness of legislative bodies, while coordinating and supporting each other at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums.
Regarding economic, trade and investment cooperation, General Secretary and President To Lam proposed that the French National Assembly soon complete the ratification of EVIPA to facilitate investors from the two countries as well as the EU; and support the European Commission (EC) to soon remove the IUU yellow card for Vietnamese seafood.
* On the afternoon of October 7, at a meeting with President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher, General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his delight at the decision of Vietnam and France to upgrade their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, demonstrating the political determination of the leaders and meeting the expectations of the people of the two countries. General Secretary and President To Lam highly appreciated the active role of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Group in the Senate and the Vietnam-France Friendship Parliamentarians' Group, which are bridges bringing the two legislative bodies and people of the two countries closer together.
The President of the French Senate agreed with the proposals of the General Secretary and President on promoting cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries, especially increasing delegation exchanges at all levels, closely coordinating and supporting each other at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums..., contributing to making the relationship between the two countries increasingly deeper, more practical and effective.
Regarding the East Sea issue, General Secretary and President To Lam highly appreciated the positive results of the seminars and reports of the French Senate on the situation in Asia-Pacific and the East Sea. The two sides emphasized the need to ensure peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation, and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS.
* At the reception for National Secretary of the French Communist Party Fabien Roussel and the high-ranking delegation of the French Communist Party, General Secretary and President To Lam affirmed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always appreciate and remember the support of the French Communist Party through the periods, from the previous period of fighting for national independence to the current period of building and defending the socialist Fatherland.
The General Secretary and President informed the National Secretary of the French Communist Party about the achievements of 40 years of renovation and the foreign policy of the Communist Party of Vietnam, including maintaining and promoting relations with communist parties, workers' parties and left-wing forces to make worthy contributions to the world revolutionary cause.
Appreciating the efforts and positive results achieved by the French Communist Party in recent times, General Secretary and President To Lam suggested that the French Communist Party and the Communist Party of Vietnam continue to cooperate actively and effectively, including increasing delegation exchanges; maintaining cooperation between the two Party newspapers, Nhan Dan Newspaper and Nhan Dao Newspaper; well organizing the 4th Theoretical Workshop between the two Parties and the visit of the National Secretary of the French Communist Party to Vietnam...
The National Secretary of the French Communist Party affirmed that the visit of General Secretary and President To Lam is of great significance in strengthening the solidarity and friendship between the two Parties, while creating a new milestone and step of development for the Vietnam-France strategic partnership. He emphasized that the French Communist Party always respects and prioritizes the development of solidarity and friendship with the Communist Party of Vietnam and will continue to deepen the foundation of the good relationship between the two Parties, contributing to the relationship between the two countries.
* On the afternoon of October 7, General Secretary and President To Lam visited the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France, and had a meeting and working session with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. At the meeting, General Secretary and President To Lam highlighted the role and contributions of UNESCO in maintaining peace, security and promoting sustainable development in the world through promoting multilateral cooperation in education, culture, science, information and communication; affirming that Vietnam, as a member of many important mechanisms within UNESCO, will continue to promote its role as an active and responsible member at UNESCO.
On this occasion, General Secretary and President To Lam and UNESCO Director General visited the photo exhibition of cultural heritages and UNESCO titles of Vietnam.
* On the same day, receiving the President and some members of the Executive Committee of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association, General Secretary and President To Lam highly appreciated the Association's active role in enhancing exchanges and connections between the people of the two countries and implementing practical projects in Vietnam, most recently supporting the recovery and overcoming the consequences of Typhoon Yagi. The General Secretary and President affirmed that the Vietnamese State supports and creates favorable conditions for the France-Vietnam Friendship Association to continue operating, standing side by side with the Vietnamese people; and requested the Association to continue promoting solidarity activities, supporting and contributing to the relationship between the two countries.
* Previously, on October 6, General Secretary and President To Lam visited Le Havre city and had a working meeting with Mayor Edouard Philippe. At the meeting, General Secretary and President To Lam highly appreciated Mayor Edouard Philippe's positive contributions to Vietnam-France relations; expressed his delight at the developments in cooperation between Le Havre and Da Nang city, contributing to strengthening cooperation between localities of the two countries in the fields of people-to-people exchange, seaport development, logistics and maritime transport, marine environmental protection, maritime technology, etc.
Affirming that the East Sea is the world's cargo transportation artery, General Secretary and President To Lam and the Mayor of Le Havre emphasized the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS.
* On the evening of October 7, General Secretary and President To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation left Paris for home, successfully concluding their official visit to the French Republic.
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