This shared vision was expressed during a meeting in Paris on July 10 between Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Thanh and Vice President of the French Senate Loic Herve, held on the sidelines of the 50th Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF).

Thanh reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of deepening its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with France, the first EU member state to establish such a partnership with Vietnam. She proposed furthering high-level exchanges across all Party, State, Government, and Parliamentary channels to strengthen cooperation in various areas, including preparations for the upcoming visit of the French Prime Minister to Vietnam, expected later this year.

She also called on France to support Vietnam’s participation in annual G7 and G20 Summits as a guest or observer, particularly during France’s G7 presidency in 2026. She urged continued effective implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and encouraged France to expedite ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

The Vice Chairwoman asked France to advocate for the early removal of the European Commission’s "yellow card" warning on Vietnamese seafood, noting Vietnam’s active efforts to address related concerns. She also proposed that France maintain its concessional financing for Vietnam, including ODA loans, grants, and high-tech cooperation, to help accelerate national modernisation and improve citizens' livelihoods. Ongoing initiatives like the Nhon–Hanoi Urban Railway Line and the restoration of Long Biên Bridge were highlighted as examples of successful cooperation.

Thanh emphasised the need to deepen collaboration in traditional sectors such as culture, healthcare, and education and training. She also encouraged stronger ties in priority areas like strategic infrastructure, smart cities, nuclear and renewable energy, aerospace, and emerging sectors such as innovation, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation.

In the field of education and training, she proposed that France increase scholarships for Vietnamese medical professionals and further support French-language teaching and Francophone programmes in Vietnam. In addition, she asked the French Government to continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in France to integrate and contribute meaningfully to both their host country and bilateral ties.

The Vietnamese legislator praised the growing cooperation between the legislatures of the two countries, noting regular delegation exchanges, mutual experience-sharing, and coordination at multilateral parliamentary forums. These activities, she said, have significantly contributed to strengthening bilateral ties and elevating the Vietnam–France relationship to new heights.

She also expressed appreciation for France’s consistent position on the East Sea issue and urged France to continue supporting ASEAN and Vietnam’s stances, particularly in safeguarding maritime and aviation security, freedom of navigation, and resolving disputes peacefully and in line with international law.

In response, French Senate Vice President Loic Herve underlined the importance of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and France, as well as the robust relationship between their legislative bodies. He affirmed the French Senate's commitment to promoting cooperation between localities of the two countries, and emphasised the significance of the Vietnam–France decentralised cooperation conference as a flagship component of the bilateral relationship.

Herve also thanked Vietnam for sending high-level delegations to France-hosted events, reflecting strong mutual support. These include Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s participation in the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference and Vice Chairwoman Thanh’s attendance at the 50th APF General Assembly.

He shared France’s concerns over maritime and ocean-related issues, stressing the strategic importance of the East Sea in ensuring maritime safety, security, and regional stability.

During the meeting, Alain Cadec, chairman of the France–Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group in the French Senate, reaffirmed the Senate’s strong interest in strengthening parliamentary cooperation through enhanced delegation exchanges. He announced that the group plans to visit Vietnam in September 2025.

In a separate meeting, Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh met with Anne Le Hénanff, chairwoman of the France–Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group in the French National Assembly. Thanh welcomed the proactive role of both parliamentary friendship groups, particularly the contributions of their respective chairs, in advancing the partnership between the two legislatures and deepening the Vietnam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Le Hénanff expressed her affection for Vietnam and her dedication to strengthening bilateral relations. She reiterated her support for the ratification of the EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement and the removal of the European Commission’s "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood exports.

Parliamentary diplomacy serves as sustainable bridge in Vietnam – France ties

Chairwoman of the France – Vietnam Friendship Group in the French National Assembly (NA) Anne Le Hénanff has highlighted the growing parliamentary bonds between the two nations, particularly since their bilateral relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024.