Vietnam-France cooperation supports comprehensive child development

The delegation also included Florence Cavalier, President of Enfance Partenariat Vietnam (EPVN). Representing Bac Ninh province were Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Xuan Loi and representatives of several provincial departments and agencies.

Speaking at the working session, Le Xuan Loi affirmed that Vietnam-France relations have been built on a foundation of friendship, mutual respect and long-term cooperation. People-to-people exchanges, education, healthcare and social work, he said, play an important role in connecting communities and spreading humanitarian values.

Bac Ninh consistently views economic development in tandem with human development and social welfare, with care for children in special circumstances remaining a priority. In recent years, the French Embassy and EPVN have carried out a range of practical activities at the Bac Ninh General Social Protection Centre, thereby bringing practical benefits to children being cared for and raised there.

Provincial leaders also noted that economic cooperation between Bac Ninh and French partners has yet to match the potential and strengths of both sides. Bac Ninh hopes that the French Ambassador to Vietnam will continue serving as a bridge to introduce French businesses and investors seeking to study and invest in the province’s key sectors, while bolstering cultural cooperation, particularly in preserving and promoting UNESCO-recognised heritage sites.

The province also called on the French Embassy and EPVN to continue implementing programmes on healthcare, psychological support, life skills education, foreign language training and youth exchanges, while strengthening experience-sharing in social work, human resource training and the development of comprehensive childcare models.

Brochet expressed his pleasure at witnessing the results of cooperation between EPVN and the Bac Ninh General Social Protection Centre. According to the Ambassador, cooperation between a French organisation and a Vietnamese social protection facility is vivid evidence of the friendship between the peoples of the two countries as well as the strong cooperative relationship between Vietnam and France.

Speaking highly of EPVN’s contributions, Brochet said the organisation is a French humanitarian organisation dedicated to supporting Vietnamese children. Through its activities over the past two decades, the image of Vietnam and its people has been shared more widely with the French public.

The Ambassador also acknowledged the attention paid by Vietnamese agencies to childcare at the centre. He said EPVN’s support has helped the facility better fulfil its mission of caring for and raising children, not only through material assistance but also through emotional and psychological support. Many French students specialising in therapy-related fields have visited the centre to interact with children with disabilities, including hearing-impaired children, while sharing knowledge and providing support.

Brochet hailed EPVN’s practical contributions to strengthening friendship between the peoples of the two countries and affirmed that he would continue supporting the centre’s activities in the future.

Cooperation between the Bac Ninh General Social Protection Centre, EPVN and French experts and student volunteers has produced positive results in recent years.

From late May to mid-June 2026, French experts and student volunteers carried out a range of healthcare, life skills education and psychological support activities for children at the centre. A group of six medical students conducted health screenings, vision checks and support for children with refractive errors, while also providing training in first aid, oral healthcare and health education.

In addition, a group of eight experts and students specialising in speech and language therapy implemented intervention methods for children with autism, hearing impairments and language difficulties. They also guided caregivers on sensory regulation techniques, behaviour management and the application of appropriate therapeutic measures for individual cases.

A range of cultural, sports and experiential activities were also organised, creating an environment for children to develop physically and mentally while contributing to the integration of children in special circumstances into the community.

During the visit, Brochet and the delegation toured accommodation areas for children and elderly residents at the centre, presented gifts to those receiving care there and attended the inauguration of a pickleball court sponsored by EPVN.

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