French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse today (May 26) officially begin their state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Luong Cuong.

Taking place just eight months after both nations elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the visit by President Macron and his spouse marks an important milestone in advancing bilateral relations to a new level.

Vietnam and France established diplomatic ties on April 12, 1973. However, prior to that, France had set up a representative office in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam following the 1954 Geneva Agreement, in the form of a mission. This long-standing relationship, underpinned by extensive cooperation across various fields, laid a solid foundation for the two countries to establish a strategic partnership in 2013, marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

In October 2024, Party General Secretary and President To Lam paid an official visit to France, during which the two countries issued a joint statement upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, making France the first EU member to reach this highest level of ties with Vietnam. The two sides maintain a wide range of bilateral cooperation mechanisms and work closely together at international forums and organizations.

On the economic front, France is Vietnam’s fifth largest European trading partner after the Netherlands, Germany, the UK and Italy). Bilateral trade reached US$5.42 billion in 2024, up 12.9% from US$4.81 billion in 2023. France ranks 16th among 147 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 700 valid projects and total registered capital of nearly US$4 billion.

France is also Vietnam’s leading bilateral European donor of official development assistance (ODA), focusing on infrastructure, technology transfer, agriculture, green industry and finance.

The two countries also maintain important cooperation in other areas. In defence and security, France was the first Western nation to appoint a defence attaché in Vietnam. In science and technology, agriculture, education and culture, both sides have signed numerous important cooperation agreements.

Notably, in term of locality-to-locality cooperation, the two countries have jointly organized 12 alternating conferences in France and Vietnam, most recently in Hanoi in April 2023. The Vietnamese community in France currently numbers around 350,000 people, comprising various groups. Most have acquired French citizenship, integrated well into society, and maintained a longstanding and close connection with their homeland.

The enduring and close-knit ties between Vietnam and France continue to reinforce the strong and friendly relationship the two countries enjoy today. President Macron’s decision to make Vietnam the first stop on his Southeast Asia trip signifies the special attention France pays to Vietnam and underscores the strong momentum of bilateral cooperation and the solid framework the two countries have built.

Following an official welcome ceremony on May 26 morning, high-level meetings between Vietnamese and French leaders are expected to further strengthen the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. This will be translated into new joint projects, affirming both countries’ commitment to building a modern, dynamic partnership grounded in mutual respect and shared benefit.

French President’s upcoming Vietnam visit underscores strong partnership: Ambassador

VOV.VN - French President Emmanuel Macron will make a state visit to Vietnam from May 25 to 27, with a view to strengthening the two countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across key areas, including politics, economics, science, education, culture, and defence, as well as joint responses to global challenges such as climate change.