After a solemn welcoming ceremony at noon on October 7 (local time) at the Elysee Palace, Paris, General Secretary and President To Lam held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the talks, General Secretary and President To Lam and President Macron agreed to declare the upgrading of relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and agreed on major directions and measures to bring the Vietnam-France comprehensive strategic partnership framework increasingly deeper, more practical, and in line with the cooperation framework between the two countries in the new context.
With this decision, France becomes the first country in the EU to have a comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam.
The two sides assessed security and defense cooperation as one of the important pillars; agreed to effectively implement signed cooperation agreements; promptly organize a Security and 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.
General Secretary and President To Lam highly appreciated the recent visit to Vietnam by French Minister of the Army Sebastien Lecornu on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory, demonstrating the spirit of respecting history and "putting the past behind" and looking towards the future.
Regarding economics and trade, the two sides highly appreciated the cooperation between the two countries' ministries, branches and localities in this field; agreed to continue promoting preferential loans and ODA loans for Vietnam; and 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 ratification process of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); highly appreciated Vietnam’s efforts in transforming sustainable fisheries; and supported the European Committee (EC) to soon remove the “yellow card” on Vietnamese seafood.
For his part, President Macron affirmed that the EVFTA is an important driving force to promote economic and trade relations between the two sides; he affirmed that he will soon propose that the National Assembly approve the EVIPA agreement.
The French President highly appreciated Vietnam's commitment to implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership - JETP and green transition.
The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in potential 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. For his part, 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.
