Business forum features Vietnam-France cooperation opportunities

The event provided an opportunity to connect the authorities of cities, investors, and enterprises of the two countries, said Nguyen Manh Quyen, vice chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee.

Participants exchanged views, initiatives, and solutions to raise mutual understanding and promote linkages, while expanding exchange and collaboration between Vietnamese and French partners, he  went on to say.

Quyen briefed attendees on Hanoi’s current situation, with its GRDP growing 5.8% in the first quarter of this year by 1.7 times higher than the national average, whilst its budget collection reached VND128 trillion (US$5.48 billion), equivalent to 40% of the estimate.

With regard to with France, he said since 1989 the capital has attracted roughly US$494.4 million in foreign direct investment from the European country, including US$7.8 million in 2022 and US$0.92 million in the first three months of this year.  

In his remarks, French Ambassador Nicolas Warnery noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and 10 years of the establishment of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Over the past three days, the conference has sought solutions and projects on smart cities, sustainable urban and rural development, along with heritage and tourism, the diplomat said.

The French Embassy will work to promote mutual understanding and deepen the bilateral relations across various spheres, he pledged.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich stated that both nations boast huge co-operation opportunities moving forward, explaining that the nation is an active, responsible member of ASEAN, while France is a key member of the EU. In addition, both are members of the Francophone community as well as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.