Vietnam's top leader meets with leading French corporations and enterprises

At the meeting, representatives of ministries and sectors from both sides delivered opening remarks and presented a summary of the discussions between the two countries' corporations and enterprises. Numerous frank and open exchanges, accompanied by substantive and dedicated proposals from the business communities, demonstrated that Vietnamese and French businesses not only perceive potential cooperation but have also proactively sought new cooperative models, products, and methods to jointly create new value.

After listening to the report and the exchange of opinions, delivering a speech at the meeting, General Secretary and State President To Lam stated that what is most needed now is to jointly forge a new quality of economic cooperation: more substantive, more balanced, with higher technological content, tighter integration, and bringing more specific and practical benefits to the businesses and people of the two countries.

To continue consolidating and elevating Vietnam-France economic relations to a new height commensurate with the potential and aspirations of both sides, top leader To Lam proposed that the business communities and agencies of the two countries focus on shifting from goods trading to joint investment and production. He encouraged French corporations to establish production facilities, research and development centers, and supplier networks in Vietnam, while simultaneously encouraging Vietnamese enterprises to invest in France.

Shifting from a supplier-client relationship to a technology partnership. This must go beyond merely purchasing equipment and technology to focus on technology transfer, workforce training, component manufacturing, research and development, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), and promoting innovation. Moving from bilateral cooperation to jointly building value chains serving ASEAN, the EU, and the global market.

Based on the directives of General Secretary and State President To Lam, the two countries' business communities and agencies identified key strategic orientations: strategic infrastructure and energy transition; aerospace industry and high-tech transportation; science and technology, AI, quantum, semiconductors, and innovation; healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and high-quality human resources.

The top Vietnamese leader affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to be a partner for French enterprises to access Vietnam's market of over 100 million people and the broader ASEAN market; connect ASEAN with new-generation FTA networks; diversify supply chains; build production and R&D facilities in Asia; and join Vietnamese businesses in accessing third markets. At the same time, Vietnam incentivizes capable Vietnamese enterprises to increase investment capacity, commercial presence, technology, and branding in France. Vietnam and France complement each other to mutually enhance competitiveness in a rapidly and strongly restructuring world.

According to General Secretary and State President To Lam, the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has opened a promising new journey.

“We already share a solid foundation of trust, a common strategic vision, and strong determination. The phase of building the framework has passed; now is the stage for implementation and delivery of results, a time for both sides to act decisively to elevate economic cooperation to new heights,” he said.

The business community itself will be the core force turning potential into projects, and projects into technologies, products, jobs, and new development values. The cooperation documents exchanged today are highly commendable initial results. More importantly, however, each document must soon be translated into concrete implementation plans. Every agreement must quickly bear fruit in the form of products, services, and projects that yield measurable value, the top Vietnamese emphasized.

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.

Vietnam, France seek to deepen defence cooperation

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang held talks with French Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin in Paris on September 10, focusing on measures to further deepen bilateral defence cooperation.