Vietnam, France to enhance industrial and trade relations

Hanoi - On the afternoon of November 13, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien had a meeting with the new French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet.

At the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien expressed his joy and welcomed Ambassador Olivier Brochet in his new position, especially at a meaningful time in the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and France. The two sides talked about different practical topics on bilateral cooperation in the short and long term.

Dien said 2023 is a special milestone in the bilateral relationship when the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and 10 years of upgrading the strategic partnership. Vietnam and France have a long-standing traditional relationship. Both sides have the same desire to consolidate and strengthen the Vietnam-France strategic partnership in all fields, especially industry and trade.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien at the October-13 meeting with French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet - photo: Can Dung

Also during the meeting, the Vietnamese representative summarized the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement’s (EVFTA) implementation and affirmed Vietnam always welcomes its positive impacts on economic and trade relations between Vietnam and EU countries.

He highly rated energy operations of a number of leading French corporations and companies in Vietnam, and affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is always willing to create favorable conditions for EU businesses in general and French companies in particular while expecting their best performance in and contribution to Vietnam.

French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet said France will help Vietnam build legal standards and take further advantage of the EVFTA - photo: Can Dung

Ambassador Olivier Brochet emphasized that during his term of office in Vietnam, he will prioritize cooperation in combating climate change, maintaining biodiversity and moving towards sustainable development, help Vietnam build legal standards and take further advantage of the EVFTA, and further develop the bilateral economic relations.

The French representative pledged to generate efforts so that the best French products in the fields of aviation, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and food processing can reach Vietnam, as well as maintain and promote the values that ​​both sides share, such as respect for international law and protection of sovereignty through common forums.

The October-13 meeting between Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet - photo: Can Dung

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet take photos with meeting participants - photo: Can Dung

The Ambassador reiterated the French Senate’s invitation for Minister Nguyen Hong Dien to attend the France-ASEAN Forum as an honored guest in December. The forum is an important opportunity for Vietnam to promote cooperative relations with France, based on commitments made after the Vietnamese Prime Minister’s official visit to France in 2021, and it is also an opportunity to demonstrate Vietnam’s role in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region.