Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations - ICAP Pioneer to Deepen Vietnam-Cuba Bonds
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Minister Agnès Pannier‑Runacher welcomed the Acting Minister of Agriculture and the Environment to the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forestry, Sea and Fisheries.

On September 29 and 30, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, led by Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang, conducted a working visit to France, accompanied by Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang.

Agnès Pannier‑Runacher, Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forestry, Marine and Fisheries of France, welcomed the visit as highly significant, especially in light of the recent elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

She highlighted key milestones in the partnership, including the official visit to Vietnam by French President Emmanuel Macron in May and the Vietnamese Prime Minister’s participation in the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) held in Nice in June 2025.

Minister Pannier‑Runacher emphasized France’s active commitment to addressing three major global challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution. She noted that France pursues robust domestic policies while also engaging in international cooperation, both within the EU and with non-EU countries, to develop global solutions.

A delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment visited and worked at the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forestry, Marine and Fisheries.

Since the 1990s, France has established a comprehensive legal framework and allocated significant budgets and resources to pursue its Net Zero target by 2050. These efforts have produced measurable outcomes, with carbon emissions reduced by approximately 30%. France also ranks among the top five countries supporting environmental projects abroad, providing around 6 billion euros in aid to non-EU partners.

Minister Agnès Pannier‑Runacher affirmed France’s intention to deepen cooperation with Vietnam through initiatives such as the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), focusing on energy transition, renewable energy development, and emissions control alongside economic growth. She also highlighted France’s interest in supporting Vietnam in achieving its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), participating in carbon credit exchanges under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and coordinating within the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to ensure Vietnamese enterprises can implement emission reduction measures equitably and sustainably.

The Minister commended Viet Nam’s strong efforts in addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and reaffirmed France’s commitment to advocating within the EU to support Viet Nam’s process of lifting the IUU yellow card.

Pannier‑Runacher further expressed her desire to collaborate closely with Vietnam in protecting aquatic resources and advancing a blue, sustainable marine economy. She emphasized the importance of implementing the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), developing a monitoring and control system for fishing vessels, and noted that the French Government is preparing a pilot project to apply satellite technology to support the sustainable management and protection of Viet Nam’s aquatic resources.

Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang stated that Vietnam, as a developing country with limited resources and capacity, is targeting a growth rate of over 10% over the next decade. To achieve this, it is essential to draw on international experience in balancing economic development with environmental protection.

Following their Net Zero 2050 commitment at COP26, the Vietnamese Government has developed a strategic roadmap and assigned clear responsibilities to each ministry to implement this goal. Key initiatives include the JETP, Power Plan VIII, the one-million-hectare project for high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation, and forest planting and protection programs aimed at carbon absorption.

In the area of combating IUU fishing, Vietnam has undertaken significant legal reforms and strengthened enforcement, resulting in a substantial reduction in IUU vessels. However, transitioning small-scale fisheries into modern, sustainable operations remains a long-term process that requires support from France, particularly in terms of expertise and advanced technology.

Both sides expressed a strong commitment to enhancing the quality of cooperation, moving beyond agreements and dialogue to concrete actions. Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang extended a formal invitation to Agnès Pannier‑Runacher to visit Vietnam for further discussions and to initiate joint projects focused on sustainable fisheries, biodiversity conservation, forest management, emissions reduction, and equitable energy transition.

He affirmed: “Vietnam is committed to being a responsible partner in global environmental issues. We wish to accompany France in building a green, sustainable future where economic development and environmental protection go hand in hand.”

As part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s working visit to France, Director of the Department of International Cooperation Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, along with the Director of the Department of Science and Technology and representatives from the Viet Nam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, held a working session with the French Institute of Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE).

The delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in France worked with the French Institute of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both sides to strengthening cooperation in science and technology, with a particular focus on the robust implementation of Resolution 57 on science, technology, and innovation in the fields of agriculture and environment.

The two parties agreed to formulate a detailed action plan encompassing information sharing, the exchange of experts and officials for study and research, and the development of joint research programs. Priority areas for collaboration include: refining mechanisms and policies to foster an innovation ecosystem in agriculture and environment; advancing biotechnology, bioeconomy, and ecological agriculture; promoting the One Health model; enhancing food technology and nutrition-focused processing; and applying artificial intelligence across the agricultural value chain.

This initiative underscores Vietnam’s steadfast commitment to promoting knowledge and technology transfer, strengthening internal capacity in science and innovation, and positioning the agriculture-environment sector as a cornerstone of sustainable development amid climate change and intensifying global competition.

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