Vietnam, France Deepen Cooperation in Science, Technology, Workforce Training

Vietnam attaches importance to its relations with France, one of its leading partners in Europe and on the international stage, and wishes to continue close coordination with France to deepen the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a substantive and effective manner, matching the potential, strengths and development needs of both countries in the new period. The French media said the visit will provide fresh momentum to deepen the Vietnam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a substantive manner, particularly in forward-looking fields. For Vietnam, the opportunity presented by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) lies not only in expanding their applications but, more importantly, in gradually building industrial capacity, mastering technologies and engaging more deeply in global value chains. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the National Centre for Pilot Semiconductor Chip Manufacturing Support under the Ministry of Science and Technology, said that amid increasingly intense global technological competition, the semiconductor industry is not only a high-value-added economic sector but also a foundation for technological self-reliance, national security and economic competitiveness. The two projects involve an intelligent autonomous transportation system developed by Phenikaa-X JSC and a technology for producing mixed rare-earth oxides with a purity of over 95% on a semi-industrial scale developed by the Mining Technology and Construction Consultancy JSC. Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Hoai Nam stressed the need to strengthen cooperation between educational and research institutions of the two countries, shifting from exchanges and individual projects towards long-term partnerships with tangible outcomes. Quantum technology is an emerging field undergoing rapid breakthroughs and requiring enormous investment resources. Learning from the experience of pioneering countries such as Russia will enable Vietnam to significantly shorten the time needed to build its workforce and develop endogenous capabilities. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam’s upcoming official visit to France is expected to provide fresh momentum for Vietnam-France ties as it comes at a pivotal time for Vietnam’s economic restructuring. Leaders of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and AFK Sistema agreed to promote cooperation in three priority strategic technology areas, namely green hydrogen, small satellites, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems. Dung acknowledged FPT’s progress in the Korean market and said he expects the company to further foster exchanges in technology and advanced research and development (R&D) models, helping connect Vietnamese technology companies in the RoK. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam’s visit to France, Guy Bonassi, Senior Vice-President of Latin America and Asia at Thales Group, said the upgrade of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects their shared desire to deepen and broaden cooperation, with technological autonomy, resilience and human resources development assuming increasingly important roles. Schneider Electric remains committed to long-term cooperation with Vietnam, contributing to a more resilient, competitive and sustainable economy. According to Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index for July 2026, Vietnam’s mobile Internet ranking jumped 10 places to 10th globally, with a median download speed of 205.58 Mbps. Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung proposed expanding joint research programmes, particularly in strategic areas where Vietnam has development needs, and KIST has strengths, including semiconductor integrated circuits, AI, batteries and energy storage, and biotechnology. Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Nguyen Ky Son held working sessions with leaders of the Israeli Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT), the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD), the Be’er Sheva Innovation District and the cyber security research centre at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU). The presence of a head of state is particularly significant given the geographical istance involved and the leaders’ demanding schedules, said Adam, a former Commander of the French Space Command, told the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the upcoming official visit to France by General Secretary and President Lam. In addition to streamlining processes and reducing the time required to complete administrative procedures, digital models are creating more opportunities for businesses, household enterprises and small traders to access information, adopt new payment methods, connect with partners and expand their markets. As global agriculture shifts towards data-driven production, automation and artificial intelligence (AI), Russia's advances in digital farming are opening up new opportunities for cooperation with Vietnam. The Deputy PM praised SK Group's investment record in Vietnam, saying its capabilities in finance, technology and management align with Vietnam's shift toward selective investment attraction in its new growth phase. Building on the effectiveness of VNREDSat-1, Vietnam and France are continuing to promote cooperation in the next phase, including a proposal for VNREDSat-2. The two sides have discussed technological options, resources and an implementation roadmap, with a view not only to developing a new-generation satellite but also to increasing Vietnam’s level of participation and technological capabilities. Vietnam and Japan should promote science and technology, innovation and digital transformation cooperation through concrete projects, including joint research, research and development (R&D), and development of Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem, said Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau. With decades of cooperation, mutual trust and complementary strengths, Vietnam and Russia have favourable conditions to build a more substantive, selective and strategically focused new phase of science and technology cooperation. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.