Politics

Deputy FM meets French official

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang stressed that Vietnam attaches great importance to its relationship with France, the first European Union country with which Vietnam has established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, noting that the two sides enjoy a solid foundation and significant potential for further cooperation.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) and Benoit Guidée, Director of the Asia–Oceania Department at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs meet in Hanooi on December 19. (Photo: VNA)
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) and Benoit Guidée, Director of the Asia–Oceania Department at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs meet in Hanooi on December 19. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang on December 19 received Benoit Guidée, Director of the Asia–Oceania Department at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Vietnam to co-chair the Vietnam–France Political Consultation.

Hang highly valued the maintenance of the political consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries, describing it as an effective and substantive channel for reviewing and advancing bilateral cooperation in line with the Vietnam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

She stressed that Vietnam attaches great importance to its relationship with France, the first European Union country with which Vietnam has established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, noting that the two sides enjoy a solid foundation and significant potential for further cooperation.

She highlighted opportunities to strengthen collaboration in areas where France has strong expertise, including urban transport, strategic infrastructure, railways, energy, and water treatment systems.

For his part, Guidée expressed his pleasure at returning to Vietnam and agreed that bilateral relations have developed positively since being elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024.

He welcomed the high-level exchanges in 2025, including the visit to Vietnam by French President Emmanuel Macron and the visit to France by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, describing them as important drivers for deepening and expanding bilateral ties.

He affirmed France’s continued support for Vietnam in strategic sectors as well as in research and high-quality human resource training, and proposed maintaining existing dialogue mechanisms effectively.

The two sides also agreed to further enhance cooperation across all areas, including politics, diplomacy, trade, culture, education and training, science and technology, and cooperation between localities, while strengthening coordination at regional and international forums. France affirmed its commitment to accompanying Vietnam in achieving its socio-economic development goals, while Vietnam expressed support for France’s role and initiatives in addressing global challenges.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese official called on France to soon ratify the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and urge the European Commission to lift the IUU’s yellow card on Vietnamese seafood exports.

Earlier, Guidée and Bui Ha Nam, Director of the European Department of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the second Vietnam–France Political Consultation, during which both sides reviewed cooperation outcomes and agreed on orientations to further deepen bilateral relations./.

VNA
#Vietnam #Deputy FM Le Thi Thu Hang #France
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang, who is also head of Vietnam’s SOM ASEAN, speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

2025 – successful year for ASEAN: Deputy FM

The year 2025 marks a successful period for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with a series of historic milestones achieved, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang has said.

See more

The appointment decision handover ceremony is held in Hanoi on March 12. (Photo: VNA)

PM appoints new leader for Vietnam’s top science academy

PM Pham Minh Chinh asked the VAST to continue to serve as the Party and State’s strategic advisory body on science – technology in key areas such as artificial intelligence, energy, marine economy, water security, and aerospace, alongside building a national sci-tech database.

Do Thanh Hai (right), Deputy Director-General of the East Sea Institute under the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, speaks at the dialogue. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, India promote maritime security cooperation through blue economy development

Through four rounds of bilateral “Track 1” Maritime Security Dialogue, the two sides have outlined priority areas of cooperation, including marine scientific research, blue economy development, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, naval and coast guard cooperation, maritime law enforcement, capacity building, and maritime connectivity.

Ha Thi Nga (right), Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, meets with V.G. Kalganov, Deputy Chairman of the External Relations Committee of Saint Petersburg, in Hanoi on March 12. (Photo: mattran.org.vn)

Vietnam, Saint Petersburg step up people-to-people exchanges

The VFF will continue strengthening bilateral ties and promoting cooperation activities, while seeking closer coordination and support from Saint Petersburg to expand people-to-people exchanges in the coming period, VFF Vice President and General Secretary Ha Thi Nga has said.

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

Top legislator asked for thorough preparations for NA, People’s Council election

With only three days left before voters head to the polls on March 15, the top legislator described the election as a particularly important political event and a major national occasion that demonstrates the people’s right to exercise their democratic power by directly choosing qualified representatives to the NA and People’s Councils at all levels.

Ship 17 of Brigade 171 under Naval Region 2 of the Vietnam People’s Navy. (Photo: VNA)

Navy ship completes Milan 2026 multinational exercise in India

Over a journey covering more than 5,000 nautical miles, the ship’s officers and crew combined operational participation with extended sea training aimed at enhancing command coordination capabilities, combat readiness, mastery of weapons and technical equipment, and overall physical endurance.

An overview of the 10th session of the 15th National Assembly which opens on October 20, 2025. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

France-based expert suggests elevating parliamentary diplomacy to support national development

Inter-parliamentary cooperation should be closely aligned with the country’s development priorities, including institutional reform, trade and investment, digital transformation, green transition, energy security, high-quality human resources development and the implementation of international commitments, said Le Van Tranh, a Vietnamese doctoral researcher in law at Paris Panthéon-Assas University in France.

Residents visit polling stations in their wards to review the list of candidates for deputies to the 16th National Assembly and members of People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term. (Photo: VNA)

📝OP-ED: Resolutely removing discordant voices ahead of national election day

When March 15 arrives, one will see elderly voters approaching a hundred years old making their way to the polls, young voters casting their ballots with enthusiasm, and multi-generational families going together to fulfil their civic duty. Together, these moments will create a vibrant atmosphere, resembling a national celebration.

Le Thuong, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Association in the Kansai region, Japan. (Photo: VNA)

OV in Japan place high expectations on NA, People’s Council election

Le Thuong, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Association in the Kansai region, said overseas Vietnamese are closely following the upcoming election, viewing it as an important opportunity to strengthen the effectiveness of governance and ensure that development policies meet the country’s evolving needs.