Vietnam, France Issue Joint Statement on Promoting Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms and explore deeper sectoral cooperation to meet development needs in the new context. "The phase of building the framework has passed; now is the time for implementation and results – for the two sides to take breakthrough action and elevate economic cooperation to new heights," said General Secretary and President To Lam. General Secretary and President To Lam called for deeper cooperation with France to raise the localisation rate of core technologies in Vietnam’s new-generation Earth observation satellite scheme, as well as for doctoral and supervised master’s training courses to cultivate a generation of Vietnamese scientists able to master quantum technologies. The visit reaffirmed Vietnam’s particular importance attached to its comprehensive strategic partnership with France, providing an opportunity to connect France’s strengths in science and technology, innovation, and strategic technology sectors with Vietnam’s emerging development needs. The Vietnamese leader expected the French National Assembly to soon complete the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). He also asked France to continue leveraging its role in the EU to support stronger Vietnam-EU ties and tackle illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. Economic ties have continued to grow across trade, investment, and development cooperation. Bilateral trade surpassed US$5 billion in the first eight months of 2026, with Vietnam exporting US$3.1 billion worth of goods to France and importing US$1.9 billion worth of products from the European country. Discussions showed that both countries attach importance to Vietnam’s role, position, potential, and growth prospects, and highly value the Vietnamese Party and State’s vision and recent reforms. Parliaments and political parties of both countries expressed their desire to accompany Vietnam’s development, further tightening the Vietnam-RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Vietnam-Mongolia Comprehensive Partnership. Vietnam attaches importance to and wishes to further deepen comprehensive cooperation with Poland, both bilaterally and multilaterally. The country is determined to effectively implement high-level commitments and agreements to make bilateral ties more substantive and effective and bring them to a new level. The top leader acknowledged and highly appreciated the pioneering and active role played by Vietnamese associations, particularly the Vietnamese Association in France, in strengthening community solidarity and cohesion, promoting Vietnamese culture, maintaining Vietnamese-language teaching and learning among younger generations, and making practical contributions to national development.