Party chief urges France to further bolster Vietnam – EU ties

During a reception in Hanoi on April 17 for French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet, Lam highlighted France’s role as the first EU nation to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, a testament to its commitment to strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation.

He expressed satisfaction with the positive progress in trade and investment, core pillars of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and urged joint efforts to uphold the multilateral trading system, boost bilateral trade, and further open markets.

Welcoming Brochet’s proposals to leverage the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Lam endorsed cooperation in high-potential sectors, including infrastructure, transportation, renewable energy, sci-tech, innovation, aerospace, and workforce training. He also advocated for deeper collaboration in health care, culture, heritage preservation, museum, historical memory and archiving, as well as people-to-people exchange.

Party General Secretary To Lam receives French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet in Hanoi on April 17. (Photo: VNA)

Brochet called for concrete steps to advance the newly established cooperation framework, highlighting France’s desire to continue accompanying Vietnam in its development journey in the years ahead.

He hailed Vietnam as France’s priority partner in the Asia-Pacific, citing frequent high-level visits and exchanges and expanding cooperation mechanisms across a wide range of sectors.

Agreeing with Lam’s remarks about the importance of the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), he affirmed support for an early ratification of the EVIPA by the French National Assembly and pledged to push forward the European Commission’s removal of yellow card warning on Vietnam’s seafood exports.

Host and guest vowed to further increase cooperation at multilateral forums and international organisations, with a shared commitment to promoting multilateralism, respecting international law, and jointly addressing global challenges.

On the East Sea/South China Sea issue, the diplomat reiterated France and the EU’s support for Vietnam and ASEAN’s stance on the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), contributing to peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region.