Viet Nam, RoK top legislators vow to deepen strategic partnership during talks in Seoul
National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man, currently on an official visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), held talks with RoK National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong Sik in Seoul on September 7, with both leaders agreeing to deepen political trust, expand bilateral economic and tech cooperation, and advance the comprehensive strategic partnership.
At the talks following the official welcoming ceremony at the RoK National Assembly headquarters, Speaker Cho Jeong Sik warmly welcomed NA President Tran Thanh Man, his spouse, and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation.
He noted with appreciation that Man is his first foreign guest since the RoK National Assembly consolidated its new leadership, emphasizing that the visit carries special significance in consolidating political trust and implementing high-level agreements, particularly those reached during General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and State President To Lam's visit to the RoK in August 2025 and President Lee Jae Myung's visit to Viet Nam in April 2026.
Speaker Cho affirmed that the visit will further strengthen legislative cooperation, while expressing the desire for Viet Nam's Government and National Assembly to continue fine-tuning legal frameworks to support RoK enterprises in stable, long-term investment.
He expressed affection for Viet Nam and its people, consented with Tran Thanh Man's proposals regarding support for Vietnamese citizens and businesses in the RoK, and pledged to create favorable conditions for them, including members of the nearly 100,000 multi-cultural families, to live, work, and integrate smoothly.
Praising Viet Nam's development achievements and rising international standing, Speaker Cho affirmed that the RoK stands ready to accompany Viet Nam on its next developmental stage.
Expressing gratitude for the warm and thoughtful reception, the top Vietnamese legislator hailed the core role of the RoK National Assembly and Speaker Cho's governance principles, which prioritize substantive results for citizens, citizen participation, and future-oriented legislation in digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI). He affirmed that Viet Nam regards the RoK as one of its top and most enduring strategic partners and desires substantive, effective, and long-term bilateral relations across all fields.
Acknowledging the contributions of RoK enterprises to Viet Nam's socio-economic development, the Vietnamese NA leader proposed that the RoK National Assembly encourage its businesses to expand investments in priority sectors such as infrastructure, semiconductors, large-scale AI data centers, energy, and seaports. He also called for greater participation of Vietnamese enterprises in RoK production supply chains and the opening of markets for goods from both nations.
During the talks, the two top legislators held in-depth discussions on each country's situation and measures to boost bilateral relations, reported VOV.
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| National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and RoK National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong Sik hold talks in Seoul |
They agreed to maintain regular high-level strategic exchanges, realize the strategic vision for bilateral economic linkage in the new context to achieve balanced and sustainable trade turnover of US$100 billion in 2026 and move toward US$150 billion by 2030.
Both sides are set to prioritize non-refundable and preferential ODA for Vietnamese projects, bolster sci-tech cooperation as a core growth driver, and refine policies ensuring stable, long-term operations for investors from both countries.
The two leaders concurred on expanding cooperation in human resource training, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, while safeguarding the legitimate rights of the Vietnamese community in the RoK and the Korean community in Viet Nam, notably the multi-cultural families. On parliamentary cooperation, they applauded past coordination and laid stress on the vital role of parliamentary diplomacy in supervising and enforcing bilateral agreements, reported VOV.
They agreed to maintain high-level delegations, share legislative experience, intensify exchanges between specialized committees, and effectively implement the cooperation MoU signed in November 2025, alongside mutual support at regional and international parliamentary forums.
Discussing regional and international issues of shared concern, the two leaders agreed to enhance coordination at multilateral forums. Man asked the RoK to share experiences and support Viet Nam in successfully hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2027, while strengthening cooperation at the United Nations and within ASEAN-RoK and Mekong-RoK frameworks.
Discussing regional and international issues of shared concern, Discussing regional and international issues of shared concern, the two leaders shared the view on enhancing coordination at multilateral forums. The top Vietnamese leader sked the RoK to share experience and support Viet Nam in successfully hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2027, while effectively implementing cooperation mechanisms within United Nations, ASEAN-RoK, and Mekong-RoK frameworks.
Top Vietnamese leader’s visit to France to deepen ties: French Communist Party official
The official visit to France by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) and President To Lam marks a “particularly significant moment” for the Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signalling both nations’ commitment to continuing to deepen bilateral ties, said Vincent Boulet, the French Communist Party (PCF)’s foreign affairs head.
The visit will strengthen historic ties between the PCF and the CPV, built and nurtured since the time of President Ho Chi Minh, forged and nurtured since the time of President Ho Chi Minh, Boulet told the Viet Nam News Agency's correspondents in Paris.
Boulet said the PCF and CPV have long been close friends in the fight for social justice and development, and closer cooperation can drive socio-economic and cultural exchanges that boost prosperity in both countries.
Political parties, localities and associations act as critical bridges for mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries' people, he said, with dialogue and exchanges opening space to share experiences and shared values they pursue.
In the next phase of ties, he said joint cultural and educational projects should be scaled to draw in younger generations, strengthening social bonds and laying a solid foundation for the comprehensive strategic partnership.
To deepen party-to-party and people-to-people links, Boulet proposed more theoretical seminars on global shifts and each party’s major policy directions, arguing such exchanges would help preserve shared values in the current landscape, VNA reported.
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| Vincent Boulet (first, left), French Communist Party (PCF)’s foreign affairs head, attends the opening of Nhan Dan (People) newspaper's display at an event in September 2024. (Photo: VNA) |
He also called for more youth exchanges that give young people direct exposure to each other’s cultures.
On the economic front, he urged support for joint projects in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and information technology, along with stronger backing for friendship associations to deepen cooperation and expand social and humanitarian activities.
Such initiatives, he said, can build on a shared desire to refresh the relationship while sustaining the spirit of solidarity that has long defined bilateral history.
On Viet Nam’s development trajectory, Boulet said the country has made broad progress under General Secretary and President Lam’s leadership, citing average annual GDP growth of 6.5% that has lifted its global standing.
Effective social programs have pulled millions out of poverty, while expanding strategic partnerships have made Viet Nam a more attractive investment destination. Those gains underscore Viet Nam’s momentum and reinforce the case for deeper cooperation with France, he said.
Boulet said he expects the visit to mark an important step forward in bilateral relations, with Viet Nam and France continuing to work toward a shared future.
Viet Nam, France explore new space technology cooperation opportunities
Prof. Dr. Tran Hong Thai, President of the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), emphasised that the VNREDSat-1 satellite, a key achievement of Vietnam-France scientific and technological collaboration, should be seen not just as Viet Nam’s first Earth observation satellite but also as a national capacity-building program in the field.
The results achieved through the VNREDSat-1 program are laying the groundwork for space technology cooperation to enter a new phase, towards developing next-generation satellite systems, strengthening training and technology transfer, and gradually enhancing Viet Nam’s technological capacity, Thai told the Viet Nam News Agency.
According to him, during 2011-2013, VAST worked with Astrium, now Airbus Defence and Space, to organize an intensive training program for a group of Vietnamese engineers in France and Viet Nam.
The satellite was successfully launched on May 7, 2013, and the system was officially handed over to Viet Nam for operation in September 2013. By 2026, as it enters its 14th year of operation, VNREDSat-1 continues to provide data, despite having an initially designed lifespan of five years. This is a highly noteworthy achievement, both in terms of the system’s durability and the operational capacity of the Vietnamese technical team.
During French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Viet Nam from May 25-27, 2025, VAST, Airbus Defence and Space, and the French national space agency CNES signed a declaration of intent (DoI) to promote long-term cooperation in space technology and Earth observation satellites.
The declaration marked a transition to a new phase of cooperation, with the three sides agreeing to explore the development of a next-generation Earth observation system, drawing on advanced technologies developed under the CO3D (3D Optical Constellation) program, and considering training and technology transfer under future programs.
Building on the effectiveness of VNREDSat-1, Viet Nam and France are continuing to promote cooperation in the next phase, including a proposal for VNREDSat-2. The two sides have discussed technological options, resources and an implementation roadmap, with a view not only to developing a new-generation satellite but also to increasing Viet Nam’s level of participation and technological capabilities, cited VNA.
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| Images are collected and processed at a satellite image receiving station. (Photo: VNA) |
In the long term, Viet Nam aims to gradually master the technology for Earth observation satellites and satellite constellations, together with space data infrastructure. To achieve this goal, cooperation with countries possessing strong capabilities, such as France, Japan, Russia and China, as well as other suitable partners, is very important, Thai said.
The expert noted that experience from VNREDSat-1 shows that cooperation with France has delivered three simultaneous benefits. First, it has enabled access to a real-world technological system rather than merely theoretical knowledge. Second, it has helped build a pool of specialists maintaining their expertise over time. Third, it has created an ecosystem for exploiting data to meet the country’s specific needs.
Thai said General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam’s official visit to France and attendance at the International Space Summit in Paris (from September 7 to 12) are of great importance to the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, which is built on a foundation of political trust and deep ties.
He expressed his belief that the visit will open up opportunities for substantive cooperation in science, technology and innovation, bringing into play France’s strengths, particularly in strategic and space technologies, in line with Viet Nam’s emerging development needs. The visit will also provide an opportunity for VAST to strengthen cooperation with French partners in research, training and technology development.
Jazz reverberates through Ha Noi’s streets
The Ha Noi Jazztival 2026, themed “Ha Noi Jazz – A melody without borders,” will take place from September 17 to 19.
More than simply adding another festival to Ha Noi’s cultural calendar, the event will forge a space where heritage and contemporary culture, artists and audiences, and the city and the wider world are united through the free, improvisational, and conversational language of music.
With the theme “Ha Noi Jazz – A melody without borders,” the event is poised to become an annual fixture in the capital, aligned with the city’s cultural-industry development strategy and its commitment to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. A creative city needs festivals like this to create memories, sounds, encounters, and a sense of place that people carry with them when they leave, NDO reported.
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| Meritorious Artist Quyen Van Minh and his band perform Jazz melodies in the open-air setting of the Octagonal House at Ly Thai To Flower Garden (Hoan Kiem Ward, Ha Noi). (Photo: Organizing Committee) |
Perhaps the most intriguing feature of Ha Noi Jazztival is the way the festival refuses to confine itself to a single stage. Over the three days from September 17 to 19, activities will unfold across a range of venues: the Music Garden of the Ha Noi Opera House, the Octagonal House beside Hoan Kiem Lake, 22 Hang Buom Street, the Viet Nam Women’s Museum, the Thang Long Theatre of Music and Dance, the Thang Long Opera Hotel, and Jazz clubs such as Binh Minh Jazz and Long Waits. The programme will feature performances, exhibitions, talks, workshops, artist meet-and-greets and street music. It is a festival designed to imprint new memories upon the city.
Ha Noi Jazztival aims to establish Ha Noi as a Jazz hub in Viet Nam, where artists, scholars, and educational institutions can converge, while expanding creative spaces, developing the cultural industries, and promoting the image of a capital that embraces international integration while retaining its distinctive identity.
For Ha Noi, a sustained international Jazz festival could also become interwoven into the city’s cultural life. Rather than being confined to events held in September, Jazz could thrive through smaller gigs, young artists, improvisational sessions, outdoor stages, and a growing community of listeners.
That is when Jazz can become embedded within the city’s collective memory, while the city discovers another resonance with which to tell its own story.
