The visit, under the Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, focused on cooperation in the maritime economy, high technology, parliamentary ties, media and the Vietnamese community, with a view to concrete projects.

In meetings with local authorities, including the Prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône, representatives of the Departmental Council and the mayor of Marseille’s 11th-12th districts, the ambassador stressed the need to translate the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into specific cooperation programmes in line with the development needs of each side.

He also proposed stronger links between local research centres, businesses and innovation hubs and Vietnam’s technology ecosystem, particularly in artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology, energy and digital technology.

Decentralised cooperation remained a focus, with an orientation toward promoting twinning relations between Marseille and several Vietnamese localities, especially Hai Phong.

French counterparts said Marseille holds a strategic political and economic position, with its port system serving as a southern gateway to France and Europe.

As the international environment is undergoing many changes, they said the city faces challenges and has opportunities to strengthen its role in global value chains.

Jacques Witkowski, Prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône, said: “The potential for exchanges between the two sides is very strong, from maritime trade, with CMA CGM present, to key areas such as language, cultural, scientific and student exchanges. We need to better understand each other and further strengthen the bonds of friendship, making our ties stronger than geographical distance.”

The two sides also discussed priority areas including the maritime economy, logistics, port management, strategic infrastructure and urban transport, while highlighting potential in high-tech sectors, with the French side underscoring strengths in nuclear technology.

In discussions with the Aix-Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry, both sides noted the existing foundation of economic cooperation and emphasised Marseille’s role as a strategic gateway for Vietnamese goods entering Europe.

At a meeting with Senator Jérémy Bacchi, both sides underlined the growing importance of parliamentary channels and locality-to-locality cooperation in deepening Vietnam-France relations. They also discussed promoting twinning ties between Marseille and Vietnamese localities as a practical way to enhance connections between territories. Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai called on the French side to continue supporting the early ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), contributing to a more favourable environment for bilateral investment.

For his part, Senator Jérémy Bacchi said the distinct historical link between Marseille and Vietnam provides a solid foundation for the future: “The history of the French and Vietnamese peoples has been closely connected for centuries. Marseille in particular, where I was born and now serve as a senator, was the first city to welcome President Ho Chi Minh to France in 1911. We are working to develop twinning projects between French and Vietnamese cities to strengthen cultural and economic exchanges.”

During the visit, the embassy delegation also visited the newsroom of La Marseillaise newspaper and met with representatives of Vietnamese associations and the Vietnamese community in Bouches-du-Rhône.

Vietnam eyes deeper economic partnership with France in key future industries

Vietnam is ramping up efforts to draw high-quality French investment into sectors where France holds global advantages, including transport infrastructure, smart cities, renewable energy, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, logistics, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Trinh Duc Hai has said.