France willing to accompany Vietnam in energy transition

French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet

Vietnamese-French relations

The France and Vietnam has a long history of relationship. According to French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet, in 2023, the two countries celebrated the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. In 2024, two significant events were marked.

The first one is the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. The French government sent representatives, including the Minister of the Armed Forces and the Secretary of State for Veterans and Remembrance, to visit Vietnam and attend the commemoration ceremony. “The presence of French government representatives shows that the two countries can acknowledge the past as not to forget it, but to move toward the future, as the past is always a part of our memory,” said Ambassador Olivier Brochet.

The second event, according to Ambassador Olivier Brochet, is the 19th Francophonie Summit and the official visit of Vietnamese General Party Secretary and President To Lam to France in October 2024. This was the first direct meeting between the heads of state of the two countries. Vietnam and France have upgraded their diplomatic relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. For France, this is a testament to the friendship and trust that Vietnam has in France.

In September 2024, Typhoon Yagi caused severe damage in Vietnam’s northern provinces. According to the French ambassador, as soon as the damage was reported, the French President decided to support Vietnam. Additionally, the French community in Vietnam and French businesses also joined hands to help Vietnam recover. This underscores the climate change risks we face, which require us to cooperate in addressing these contemporary challenges, he said.

One of the key events mentioned by Ambassador Olivier Brochet was the inauguration and operation of Hanoi’s Metro Line 3, a symbolic project in France-Vietnam cooperation. The project received significant funding from France (France provided 500 million euros, roughly VND13.6 trillion, for this railway line), and French companies actively participated in the project, providing their best technologies. “We are very pleased to see the project in operation, with an estimated 2-3 million people using this public transport system. This exemplifies what France wishes to collaborate on with Vietnam – working towards sustainable development,” emphasized Ambassador Olivier Brochet.

Promoting cooperation in potential sectors

Sharing insight into the potential for cooperation between the two countries, French Ambassador Olivier Brochet stated that France wishes to accompany Vietnam in its energy transition and development in the coming years. The goal is to ensure Vietnam’s economic growth while minimizing environmental impacts. “We will continue to focus on developing renewable energy sources. At the same time, France is also willing to collaborate with Vietnam in nuclear energy development, as France has been a leading nuclear power nation for over 60 years, with a significant portion of its energy coming from nuclear power,” said Ambassador Olivier Brochet.

Additionally, according to Ambassador Olivier Brochet, there is significant potential for cooperation in railway transportation. He noted that France is well known for its high-speed rail system (TGV), which has been in operation for over 40 years without any incidents. France has also exported this technology to many countries worldwide, most recently to Morocco. These are models that Vietnam could consider in the future. Moreover, France is willing to collaborate with Vietnam in developing ecological agriculture to ensure sustainable growth in this sector.

Regarding the Long Bien Bridge renovation project, Ambassador Olivier Brochet stated that the French company Artelia is currently conducting technical and feasibility studies, which are expected to be completed by fall of next year. France is willing to provide financial and technical support for this project, hoping that Vietnam will soon decide on the most suitable upgrade plan for Long Bien Bridge./.