Top Leader Calls for French Communist Party’s Continued Contribution to Vietnam-France Ties

Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President To Lam's official visit to France from September 9-12 demonstrates the close ties the two countries have built and maintained, according to Dr. Sophie Boisseau du Rocher, a researcher at the Asie21 research group and former researcher at the Centre for Asian Studies of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). In his speech, General Secretary and President Lam recalled the late leader’s years abroad seeking a path to national liberation and thanked the French people for their support during his years in France. He called Montreau Park a “red address” and sacred return site with deep historical meaning for Vietnamese visitors to France. The Vietnam-France relationship is rooted in history but, more importantly, has been strengthened through sincere dialogue, mutual respect and forward-looking cooperation. The two countries have built solid ties in areas including economy, higher education, culture and people-to-people exchanges. This visit reaffirms the high priority Vietnam places on the Vietnam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It also serves as an opportunity to connect France’s strengths in science, technology, innovation, and strategic technology sectors with Vietnam’s emerging development needs. The two sides concurred that the Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership should continue to be nurtured on the foundations of mutual trust, respect for each country’s identity and a shared responsibility to promote dialogue between Southeast Asia and Europe. These foundations will enable bilateral ties to develop in a substantive, sustainable and forward-looking manner. In related news, Vietnam has been strengthening its comprehensive partnership with Mongolia, with National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man visiting the country on September 10 and expressing willingness to remove institutional barriers to promote economic and trade cooperation. Ties with Russia are also deepening, with General Secretary and President Lam holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 9 to discuss further advancements in their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation were agreed upon as new drivers for the bilateral relationship.