The cooperation agreement, signed on February 12, outlines several key initiatives, including regular training programmes in sports nutrition and psychology, sharing of advanced technological applications, and athlete performance evaluation methods. A notable feature is the provision for high-performance athletes to receive training opportunities in both France and Vietnam, aimed at improving competition results and expanding international exchanges.

The five-year pact, which can be automatically extended for another five years, is expected to bring the two countries’ sports to a new high.

At the signing ceremony, Ambassador Olivier Brochet highlighted Vietnam's remarkable sporting potential, noting the widespread enthusiasm for sports among people. He specifically referenced the recent public jubilation following Vietnam's victory in the 2024 ASEAN Cup as evidence of the nation's passionate sporting culture.

He said France is one of the world's top ten sporting nations with considerable experiences in organising major international events like the World Cup, Olympics, and Paralympics, noting France's journey to sporting excellence which was achieved through rational policies and strategies for sports development.

Hoping to enhance people-to-people exchanges, the French Embassy proposed a new sport cooperation programme with Vietnam on the back of the Comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations, he added.

Director of the Sports Authority of Vietnam Dang Viet Ha expressed his strong support for the enhanced cooperation, viewing it as a crucial step in implementing the Vietnam - France Comprehensive strategic partnership.

Vietnam, Japan step up sport cooperation

The sports association of the Vietnam People’s Police Force and the Vietnam – Japan international exchange organisation (FAVIJA) will build sport cooperation programmes under a Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between the two sides in Japan.