Vietnam–France relations set to embrace fresh opportunities for cooperation

Vietnam and France are facing a “historic opportunity” as Vietnam undergoes rapid transformation, while France is also seeking to strengthen partnerships with dynamic economies in Asia. The two countries therefore share a common interest in moving forward together and seizing the current opportunity to bring bilateral relations into a new phase of development. At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam is set to pay an official visit to France and attend the International Space Summit from September 9-11. This visit is expected to mark a significant milestone in the development of bilateral relations. Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung called on Vietnam and France to maintain delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels, and make economic, trade and investment cooperation on par with their potential. He also urged the two countries to seek breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, energy, aerospace, transport and railways; and deepen defence-security, healthcare, education-training, cultural and local-level collaboration. Domestically, Politburo Member and Standing Member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu asked the entire Party Organisation of Central Party Agencies to focus on directing advisory work and preparations to ensure the best possible organisation of the 4th plenum of the 14th CPV Central Committee. This highlights the focus on maintaining domestic political stability and policy execution capabilities, which are crucial for sustained economic growth. Furthermore, National Assembly (NA) President Tran Thanh Man urged the RoK legislature to encourage Korean companies to expand investment in Vietnam in priority areas, including infrastructure, semiconductors, large-scale AI data centres, energy and seaports; and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to engage more deeply in the RoK’s manufacturing supply chains. This is part of Vietnam's strategy to diversify its supply chains and strengthen cooperation with technologically advanced countries. With Mongolia, cooperation documents are expected to be signed between the legislatures, creating a framework for greater exchanges of experience in lawmaking, supervision, and decision-making on major national issues. This demonstrates Vietnam's efforts to diversify its regional diplomatic relations and build stable partnerships. Relations with Russia are expected to develop strongly, substantively, and effectively across many fields and dimensions, on the solid foundation of friendship and mutual understanding cultivated over years. This reflects Vietnam's approach to maintaining and strengthening ties with traditional allies while establishing its position in the international community. In terms of relations with Myanmar, the visit by President Min Aung Hlaing opened a new chapter in bilateral ties and contributed to regional peace and prosperity, highlighting Vietnam’s constructive and pragmatic role in maintaining ASEAN unity and credibility. Regarding relations with Japan, local cooperation is highlighted as an important pillar of bilateral ties, with calls for stronger efforts to turn strategic commitments into concrete projects. This suggests Vietnam's emphasis on leveraging Japanese investment and technology transfer to drive economic growth. These diplomatic activities aim to strongly implement the foreign policy outlined by the 14th National Party Congress, strengthen political trust, and create an external environment conducive to Vietnam’s development in the new era. The trips are also expected to help mobilize international resources for national development. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.