Vietnamese Embassy in France celebrates 50th anniversary of Paris Peace Accords

As part of the occasion, a discussion on the Paris Agreement relating to diplomatic and military aspects was also held featuring the participation of many famous French scholars.

Speaking during the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang reviewed the most challenging and longest negotiation process in diplomatic history which ultimately paved the way to end the longest war of the world in the 20th century.

According to details given by the Ambassador, the 1973 Paris Agreement is now a part of human history and still retains its topical value after half a century as it expresses aspirations for peace, national independence, and the territorial integrity of all peoples.

The Vietnamese diplomat expressed his emotion at being reunited with his French friends, as well as a large number of overseas Vietnamese who supported the country’s negotiating team 50 years ago.

He expressed his sincere thanks to his French friends, thereby affirming that the relationship between the two sides has grown steadily across a variety of fields and over many generations. This comes in the context of both nations celebrating the 50th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the signing of the bilateral strategic partnership agreement.

On behalf of French friends, Pierre Laurent, vice president of the French Senate, said that 50 years ago, many French people expressed solidarity with Vietnam in its resistance war against the United States. As a result, when the Vietnamese delegation went to Paris for negotiations, the French Communist Party and French supporters of Vietnam formed a vast network of solidarity for mutual assistance. He assessed the success of the Paris negotiations as being hugely important to Vietnam, as well as to France.

Those attending the event included overseas Vietnamese and many French friends, "living witnesses" who participated in helping the negotiating delegations and closely followed the Paris Conference event.

As part of the occasion, contemporary history professor Pierre Journoud introduced a new book "East Sea from the perspective of soft power" which collects analysis articles by French and Vietnamese scholars. This book offers a clearer insight into the status quo of a region that is expected to become the new geopolitical centre of an ever-changing world.