Vietnam-France ties deepen with focus on more substantive cooperation

The message was highlighted at a ceremony in Paris on September 18 to mark the 81st anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2). The functions brought together French parliamentarians and government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, partners and friends of Vietnam, as well as a large Vietnamese community living and working in France.

Addressing the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Trinh Duc Hai highlighted the historical significance of September 2, 1945, when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, and reviewed Vietnam’s development and growing international integration.

He said Vietnam-France relations have considerable potential for further development in depth and substance. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam’s official visit to France on September 10-11 also gave fresh impetus to the implementation of the two countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

During the visit, the two sides welcomed and adopted the 2026-2028 action plan to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, providing a basis for translating their strategic commitments into more concrete cooperation.

The new action plan builds on broad areas of convergence, including sustainable development, multilateralism and respect for international law. It also sets out priorities for expanding cooperation in areas of strategic importance, from trade, investment and defence to science and technology, energy, infrastructure and emerging fields.

As an honourary guest at the National Day celebration, Jean-Michel Jacques, chairman of the French National Assembly’s Defence and Armed Forces Committee, highlighted the significance of Vietnam-France relations and the similarities in the two countries’ priorities.

According to Jacques, Vietnam and France share an emphasis on international law, freedom of navigation, peace, regional stability and multilateralism. He noted that bilateral ties are not limited to Paris and Hanoi, but also extend to local authorities and are reinforced by people-to-people links.

This message is consistent with the direction set out in the 2026-2028 action plan, which places emphasis on strengthening connections and translating the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into practical cooperation.

At the people-to-people level, the experiences of French guests who have lived and worked in Vietnam offer another perspective on the depth of the relationship.

Air Force General Didier Oustric, who served as France’s military attaché in Hanoi from 2008 to 2012, spoke warmly of his long-standing connection with Vietnam. He recalled travelling across many parts of the country and retaining fond memories of places ranging from Ha Giang and Ha Long to central Vietnam, Hoi An, the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc and the Central Highlands.

For him, being invited by the Vietnamese Embassy each year to events marking Vietnam’s National Day and traditional Lunar New Year is an honour and an opportunity to maintain his connection with the country and its people.

Such memories highlight the continuing importance of people-to-people exchanges as a social foundation for Vietnam-France ties. Beyond high-level visits, cooperation mechanisms and agreements between the two governments, the relationship is also strengthened by the experiences and personal bonds of those who have lived, studied or worked in either country.

General Secretary and State President To Lam’s official visit to France earlier this month came at a time when the two sides were seeking to give greater depth to their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They agreed on a range of directions for putting the framework into practice, including stronger cooperation in economic, scientific and technological, energy, infrastructure and other strategic areas.

In this context, the National Day celebration in Paris was more than an occasion for the Vietnamese community and French friends to mark Vietnam’s national holiday. It also provided an opportunity to reflect on the foundations connecting the two countries – from high-level political trust and expanding areas of cooperation to the people-to-people ties built over generations.

Knowledge-sharing brings new depth to Vietnam-France relations

VOV.VN - In the new era under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, scientific, educational, and cultural cooperation retains a crucial role and can serve as a model for bilateral ties, rooted in equality and the co-creation of knowledge.