Chairwoman of the France – Vietnam Friendship Group in the French National Assembly (NA) Anne Le Hénanff (Photo: VNA)
Paris (VNA) – Chairwoman of the France – Vietnam Friendship Group in the French National Assembly (NA) Anne Le Hénanff has highlighted the growing parliamentary bonds between the two nations, particularly since their bilateral relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024.
Talking with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident reporter in Paris on the occasion of Vietnamese NA Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh’s trip to attend the 50th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF), Hénanff noted a surge in exchanges between the two legislatures, pointing to frequent delegation visits, political dialogues, and mutual support at international organisations like the APF.
This commitment has translated into action, she said, adding that President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Vietnam from May 25-27, accompanied by ministers overseeing transport, digital transformation, and foreign trade, underscored the deepening ties. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s recent visit to France and Thanh’s trip further reinforced the high-level exchange. These visits reflect a shared ambition to strengthen the partnership and build sustainable bridges between the two sides, Hénanff said.
Since taking her role in 2022, Hénanff has overseen robust parliamentary exchanges, hosting Vietnamese delegations in Paris and holding working sessions together, most notably during President Macron’s visit to Vietnam.
Ties between the France – Vietnam and Vietnam – France parliamentary friendship groups, she said, are grounded in sincere collaboration. The partnership now spans critical areas such as healthcare, climate change, culture, local governance, energy, and Francophonie initiatives.
She expressed her enthusiasm for continued collaboration with her Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Thuy Anh, Chairwoman of the Vietnam – France Friendship Group, who has played a pivotal role in strengthening legislative ties.
Looking ahead, Hénanff highlighted the shared priorities, including climate change adaptation, digital transformation, healthcare, and promoting French language teaching in Vietnam.
Regarding main challenges and prospects of bilateral parliamentary relations in the coming years, she emphasised her discussions with the France – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group members and both ambassadors — Olivier Brochet of France and Dinh Toan Thang of Vietnam, which have underscored the significant hurdles ahead.
A major challenge is France’s pending ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), a deal highly anticipated by Vietnam for providing a safe and transparent legal framework for European businesses interested in investment opportunities in Vietnam amid the country’s increasingly open economy.
The French President's visit to Vietnam in May announced over 9 billion EUR (10.53 billion USD) in cooperation projects across aviation, energy, and rail sectors. Once the EVIPA officially takes effect, it will help reinforce cooperation momentum and increase France's economic presence.
Hénanff said that she is actively advocating for the swift introduction of the EVIPA into the French parliamentary agenda to reinforce France’s economic presence in the region.
Beyond economic matters, other bilateral issues include concerns over fishing activities in the East Sea, touching on sovereignty and sustainable environmental management.
The French language also remains a crucial pillar of cooperation, fostering ties through education, diplomacy, and culture, she noted.
Regarding the role of parliamentary diplomacy amid current geopolitical shifts and on the occasion of the 50th meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF) General Assembly in Paris, Hénanff said she sees parliamentary diplomact as key to forging direct, humanistic, and sustainable ties. She noted parliamentarians' critical role in pushing forward bilateral agendas in climate change, digital transformation, and economic cooperation, encouraging strategic cooperation, and champion major agreements such as the EVIPA.
The 50th meeting of the APF General Assembly also offers a platform to amplify the voice of French-speaking Asian nations, with Vietnam playing a prominent and committed role in the Francophone community, she went on.
Hénanff expressed concern over the decline of French language learning in Vietnam and called for joint efforts to strengthen bilingual education, teacher training, and university exchange programmes, with parliamentarians leading these initiatives.
In light of NA Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh’s visit to France, Hénanff expressed her sincere friendship and respect to the Vietnamese parliament and people, recalling France’s participation in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory in May 2024 as a symbol of the countries’ shared commitment to lasting relations.
She reflected on her recent visit to Vietnam alongside the French President in May and confirmed plans to return in 2026 to visit southern Vietnam. Besides, she eagerly anticipates welcoming the Vietnamese parliamentary delegation, including Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh, whose visit was postponed due to the dissolution of the French NA in June 2024.
Hénanff expressed confidence in the strong future of France – Vietnam relations, driven by Vietnam’s robust economic growth, development ambitions, and enduring bilateral friendship. She reaffirmed her commitment to advancing this partnership in her role as Chairwoman of the France – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group./.
