French PM: Vietnam is Key Partner in Indo-Pacific Strategy

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM Government News Thuy Dung General Secretary and President To Lam (L) meets French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu in Paris, September 10, 2026 - Photo: VNA Lecornu hailed the significance of the top Vietnamese leader's visit, which not only sustains the positive momentum in Viet Nam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership but also creates new impetus for the bilateral relations. He affirmed that France serves as Viet Nam's gateway to the European Union (EU), while Viet Nam is France's gateway to ASEAN. The host spoke highly of the development of Viet Nam's industrial sector, which now accounts for 37 percent of the country's GDP, expressing his desire for French investors to participate in projects in Viet Nam, particularly in energy, strategic infrastructure and minerals. He affirmed France's support for Viet Nam in developing international financial center in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, and for removal of "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese seafood exports. To, for his side, stated that France is one of Viet Nam's top partners in Europe, calling on the two sides to harness their complementary strengths to deepen the new framework of bilateral relations. The two leaders vowed to actively promote all-level delegation exchanges, soon establish new cooperation mechanisms commensurate with the stature of the bilateral relations, and effectively implement the Viet Nam-France Action Plan for 2026-2028. They also pledged to continue strengthening defense and security cooperation, cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and efforts to combat organized cross-border crime. The two sides underlined the need to continue effectively implementing and leveraging the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), with a view to further increasing bilateral trade in a balanced manner by opening their markets further. Both sides pledged to mobilize resources to advance key and flagship projects in areas where France has strengths and Viet Nam has strategic needs, including aerospace, strategic transport infrastructure, clean energy and critical minerals. They also concurred to further deepen traditional cooperation in culture, education and training, healthcare and local-level connectivity, while further promoting the new pillar of cooperation in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. Regarding international issues, the host and the guest shared a common vision of upholding multilateralism and resolving conflicts by peaceful means on the basis of the UN Charter and international law. They reaffirmed the importance of resolving disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The two countries will continue close coordination and mutual support at the UN, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), and within the ASEAN-EU framework./. ONLINE NEWSPAPER OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM Editor-in-chief: Nguyen Hong Sam License: No. 102/GP-BTTTT dated on April 15, 2024. Head office: No. 16, Le Hong Phong - Ba Dinh - Ha Noi Tel: 080 43162 – 080 48440; Fax: 080 48924 Email: [email protected]