Vietnam aspires to deepen cooperation frameworks with Mongolia, Ireland, France and Francophonie

The working trips aim to reaffirm Vietnam’s independent and proactive foreign policy of multilateralism and diversification of external relations, as well as comprehensive and extensive international integration. They also reflect the high regard that the Party and State of Vietnam have for the traditional friendship with Mongolia, the multifaceted cooperation with Ireland, and the strategic partnership with France, said Son.

New directions for Vietnam – Mongolia relations

According to the diplomat, Mongolia was a strong supporter of Vietnam, both materially and spiritually, in the past struggle for national liberation and independence.

Today, the two countries regularly assist and support each other in national construction and defense. They maintain close cooperation through Party, State, and Government channels, as well as people-to-people exchanges, yielding significant results.

Son said To Lam’s state visit to Mongolia is of great significance as it coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and bilateral ties are currently at their best stage of development.

The Party General Secretary and President will discuss with top Mongolian leaders major directions and important measures to further strengthen political trust and enhance cooperation in prioritized areas, especially in politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Ample room to enhance Vietnam – Ireland cooperation

As for Ireland, this will be the first state visit since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1996. Ireland shares many similarities with Vietnam in terms of history, patriotic traditions, aspirations for progress, and diverse and unique culture, therefore there is ample room for both sides to enhance cooperation.

Senior leaders of Vietnam and Ireland are expected to examine measures to promote extensive cooperation in areas where Vietnam has needs and Ireland has strengths, such as high-quality investment, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, energy transition, and education, particularly higher education.

Ireland is currently the sixth-largest trade partner of Vietnam in the EU market. It prioritizes Vietnam as one of two Asian countries to receive its development assistance, focusing on areas such as education, gender equality, climate change response, support for ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and mine clearance.

To date, Ireland has awarded approximately 250 scholarships to Vietnamese students and researchers since 2009.

Furthermore, the two countries are continuing to strengthen the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Vietnam and France look to elevate relations to new heights

With France, after 50 years of diplomatic relations and 10 years of upgrading to a strategic partnership, political trust between the two countries has been increasingly reinforced.

Most recently, the French Minister of Defense attended a ceremony marking 70 years of the Dien Bien Phu victory over French colonialism, affirming the desire to break with the past and look towards the future, for peace, cooperation, and development.

France is now one of Vietnam’s leading European partners in tourism, trade, investment, and ODA aid. It has engaged in many projects contributing to the development, modernization, and improvement of the quality of life and environment for the Vietnamese people, such as the Nhon-Hanoi Station Metro Line Project and climate change response projects in the Mekong Delta.

In France, leaders of the two countries are anticipated to discuss measures to elevate the Vietnam – France strategic partnership to new heights, making it deeper and more substantive, commensurate with the potential and status of both countries regionally and globally.

Discussions will be centred on enhancing trade and investment cooperation and promoting traditional areas of cooperation such as culture, education, science and technology, as well as cooperation between localities. The leaders will also touch upon measures to expand bilateral cooperation in new and promising fields such as aerospace, renewable energy, high technology, and the digital economy.

Raising Vietnam’s Francophonie role in addressing global issues

During his stay in France, To Lam will also participate in the 19th Francophonie Summit. This will be the first time the Vietnamese General Secretary and President attends the summit, where he will deliver a keynote speech to further amplify the message of a proactive, responsible Vietnam that is always ready to join the international community in addressing challenges and contributing to a future of peace, friendship, solidarity, and sustainable development.

According to the diplomat, Vietnam’s cooperation with the Francophonie continues to develop positively. The Francophone community regards Vietnam as a model for socio-economic development and a central player in Francophone cooperation activities in the region. For its part, Vietnam is one of the members actively promoting the economic pillar, especially the digital economy, within the Francophone space.

With 88 member countries and territories, a population of approximately 1.2 billion people, accounting for 16% of global GDP and 20% of global trade, the Francophone economic space offers ample opportunities for Vietnam to enhance cooperation extensively, especially in the fields of economics, trade, investment, education and training, sustainable agriculture, tourism, science, and technology.

Given those positive developments, Son expressed his belief that To Lam’s working trips will record significant results, helping to solidify the foundations of Vietnam’s relationships with Mongolia, Ireland, France, and the Francophone community, while simultaneously opening up new opportunities and bringing into full play the potential for cooperation, contributing to deepening and making these relationships more substantive and effective in line with the new circumstances.