Dominique Des Miscault: French Artist Bridging Vietnam and France Through Culture
	Vietnam and France Deepen Strategic Partnership, Expand Trade and Market Access

Strengthening parliamentary connectivity and strategic trust

On the afternoon of June 2 in Hanoi, leaders of Vietnam's National Assembly and Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a delegation from the Defense and Armed Forces Committee of the French National Assembly, led by Committee Chairman Jean-Michel Jacques, during its working visit to Vietnam.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Doan Anh receives the delegation from the Defense and Armed Forces Committee of the French National Assembly. (Photo: National Assembly Portal)

Receiving the delegation at the National Assembly House, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Doan Anh, affirmed that the visit takes place at a time when Vietnam-France relations are developing positively across various fields, including politics, economics, culture, healthcare, and education. The elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024 marked an important milestone, reflecting a new level of political trust, deeper cooperation, and long-term engagement between the two nations.

Commending the outcomes of the working session between the National Defense, Security and Foreign Affairs Committee of Vietnam's National Assembly and the Defense and Armed Forces Committee of the French National Assembly, the Vice Chairman described it as an important foundation for further enhancing mutual understanding, trust, and substantive cooperation between Vietnam's National Assembly and the French Parliament, particularly in the field of defense and security.

Reaffirming that Vietnam always values and highly appreciates France's role in Europe, the Indo-Pacific region, and the international arena, the Vice Chairman emphasized that France is one of Vietnam's most important partners within the European Union (EU) and the first EU member state to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Doan Anh (right), and Chairman of the Defense and Armed Forces Committee of the French National Assembly Jean-Michel Jacques. (Photo: National Assembly Portal)

According to the Vice Chairman, relations between Vietnam's National Assembly and the French Parliament have continued to develop positively through the maintenance of delegation exchanges, high-level contacts, enhanced coordination among specialized committees, friendship parliamentary groups, and cooperation at multilateral parliamentary forums.

To effectively implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Vice Chairman proposed that both sides continue maintaining high-level exchanges between the leadership of Vietnam's National Assembly and the French National Assembly and Senate; strengthen cooperation among specialized agencies, friendship parliamentary groups, women parliamentarians, young parliamentarians, and parliamentary advisory and support bodies.

Expressing gratitude for the warm reception from the Vietnamese side, Jean-Michel Jacques, Chairman of the Defense and Armed Forces Committee of the French National Assembly, stated that the visit aims to exchange views and promote cooperation between France and Vietnam, particularly in the areas of defense, security, and parliamentary affairs.

Jean-Michel Jacques expressed his hope that the two sides would continue expanding substantive cooperation. He also affirmed that the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group would continue to serve as a bridge, contributing to the effective implementation of cooperation commitments between the two countries.

Promoting EVIPA ratification, removing the IUU “yellow card,” and enhancing people-to-people exchanges

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang receives the delegation from the Defense and Armed Forces Committee of the French National Assembly at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

On the same day, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang received the delegation from the Defense and Armed Forces Committee of the French National Assembly. She highly appreciated the visit and affirmed that Vietnam and France share many special historical and cultural ties. She emphasized that despite having experienced periods of ups and downs, bilateral relations have now developed to a new height.

The Deputy Minister reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently attaches great importance to its cooperative relationship with France and expressed satisfaction with the positive progress in bilateral relations across all fields, including the significant contributions made by the legislative bodies of both countries.

Appreciating France’s longstanding cooperation achievements in Vietnam in the fields of transport infrastructure, industry, and healthcare, the Deputy Minister proposed that both sides continue to strengthen contacts and exchanges of delegations at all levels, while further promoting the pivotal role of economic and trade cooperation through the implementation of flagship projects in bilateral relations.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang also called on the French Parliament to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) at an early date, support the European Commission (EC) in promptly removing the IUU “yellow card” imposed on Vietnamese seafood exports, and further promote people-to-people exchanges and local-level cooperation. She also urged the two sides to soon finalize plans for organizing the 13th Conference on Cooperation between Vietnamese and French Localities in France.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (right) and Jean-Michel Jacques, Chairman of the Defense and Armed Forces Committee of the French National Assembly. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Jean-Michel Jacques affirmed that Vietnam-France relations are special and unique, built upon a shared history and increasingly deep mutual trust. Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing international environment, he suggested that the two countries continue strengthening comprehensive cooperation across a wide range of fields, from economics, agriculture, and culture to strategic sectors.

The Chairman of the Defense and Armed Forces Committee of the French National Assembly affirmed that French parliamentarians support the early ratification of EVIPA and efforts to encourage the European Commission to lift the IUU “yellow card.” He also pledged to contribute to the effective implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Both sides agreed to continue making defense and security cooperation one of the key pillars of Vietnam-France relations by enhancing collaboration in United Nations peacekeeping operations, search and rescue activities, officer training, and expanding coordination in areas of mutual interest.

The two sides also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in maritime areas, including the East Sea. They emphasized that disputes should be resolved through peaceful means in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

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