As Vietnam and France have moved into the second decade of their strategic partnership, the two nations are poised to make greater progress in the relationship following the official visit to France by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam from October 3 to 7.

The top Vietnamese leader began his official visit to France after attending the 19th Francophonie Summit in this European country from Friday to Saturday last week.

This visit, which takes place soon after Lam’s appointment as the head of the Vietnamese Party and state, signifies the importance that both nations place on their bilateral ties.

Vietnam and France established their strategic partnership in 2013 and marked the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2023.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang stated that recent meetings between high-ranking leaders of both nations have affirmed a shared vision for a new phase in the Vietnam-France strategic partnership.

French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet noted that Party chief and State President Lam's official visit underscores both nations' strong commitment to further strengthening this partnership.

In Paris' Indo-Pacific strategy, Vietnam is considered one of France's top priority nations in Southeast Asia, given its strategic geopolitical position and influential role in ASEAN.

From an economic perspective, analysts pointed out that France aims to strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific region to bolster national prosperity by generating business opportunities for French companies and citizens.

Vietnam is strategically located at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region, which many countries and scholars believed would shape the 21st century thanks to the region's significant economic growth potential.

Vietnam views France as a nation with high political prestige and global influence.

In addition to being a developed economy and a founding member of many regional and international organizations, France is Hanoi’s fifth-largest trade partner and one of the leading EU nations in providing official development assistance (ODA) loans and cooperation with Vietnam.

France is recognized as a hub for lots of European startups, with more than 200 prestigious technical schools, leading hi-tech companies, and a thriving innovation ecosystem.

As for Vietnam, it is focusing on advancing science, technology, and innovation to boost productivity, quality, and competitiveness in its economy.

For these reasons, Lam's visit is expected to further bolster cooperation between the two countries, especially in trade, investment, culture, education, science and technology, and local collaboration.

The achievements from past collaborations and the outcomes of this visit could pave the way for taking their bilateral relationship to new heights.

Both nations also share a commitment to global goals such as sustainable development and climate change adaptation.

At the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015, Vietnam supported the Paris Climate Accords, considered a landmark global agreement on climate change.

At the 26th UN Climate Change Conference in the UK in 2021, Vietnam was committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, a goal that France also shares.

French Ambassador Brochet emphasized that France is set to deepen cooperation with Vietnam to ensure these ambitious targets are realized for the interests of both countries and the world.

A notable collaboration is the Just Energy Transition Partnership, as per which France pledged €500 million (US$549 million) to support Vietnam's energy transition over the next five years.

The French diplomat affirmed France would continue to work closely with Vietnam on leveraging shared expertise and experience to address the global climate crisis.

Moreover, the third UN Ocean Conference, co-organized by France and Costa Rica, will take place in Nice in June next year. 

This event is intended to accelerate efforts to preserve and sustainably use marine resources, including addressing plastic pollution, opening up another opportunity for France and Vietnam to collaborate and lead in global efforts.

In related news, French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday hosted an official welcome ceremony and held talks with Party chief and State President Lam.

The top Vietnamese official is scheduled to attend several other important meetings on the same day before concluding his official visit to France.

On Sunday, Lam and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation laid flowers in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his statue in Montreau Park, Montreuil City, France, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Lam also visited Sainte-Adresse City, where he attended the inauguration of a memorial plaque honoring President Ho Chi Minh.

The plaque, placed in front of the house that President Ho Chi Minh used to live in, symbolizes the friendship and solidarity of the people of Sainte-Adresse City in particular and the French people in general toward President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese people.

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