Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang meets with Director of Asia-Oceania Department, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
WVR - On the afternoon of December 19, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang met with Mr. Benoit Guidée, Director of the Asia-Oceania Department, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his visit to Vietnam to co-chair the Vietnam-France Political Consultation session.
Latest
 |
| Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang meets with Mr. Benoit Guidée, Director of the Asia-Oceania Department, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang welcomed Mr. Benoit Guidée's visit and appreciated the ongoing political consultation mechanism between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, which facilitates substantive and effective bilateral cooperation in line with the Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.
Emphasizing Vietnam's commitment to enhancing cooperation with France, the first EU country with which Vietnam established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed that both sides have a solid foundation and significant potential to further cooperation, especially in France's areas of strength such as urban transport, strategic infrastructure, railways, energy, and water treatment systems.
Mr. Benoit Guidée expressed his pleasure at returning to Vietnam and agreed that the relationship between France and Vietnam has seen positive developments since being elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024. He was pleased to witness many significant milestones in 2025, including President Macron's visit to Vietnam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to France, setting an important momentum for expanding and strengthening bilateral relations in the future.
Director Benoit Guidée proposed that both sides continue to maintain effective dialogue mechanisms, affirming France's ongoing support for Vietnam in strategic areas and in the research and training of high-quality human resources.
 |
| During the meeting, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized Vietnam's commitment to enhancing cooperation with France—the first EU country with which Vietnam established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
In the context of increasingly complex global developments, both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation across all areas, from political-diplomatic and economic-trade to cultural, educational-training, science-technology, and local cooperation, as well as coordination in international and regional forums.
France reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting Vietnam in achieving socio-economic development goals. Vietnam supports France's voice and role and is ready to actively participate in French initiatives addressing global issues.
On this occasion, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang urged France to soon ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and to encourage the European Commission (EC) to lift the IUU yellow card on Vietnamese seafood.
 |
| Mr. Bùi Hà Nam, Director of the European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Benoit Guidée, Director of the Asia-Oceania Department, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the second Vietnam-France Political Consultation session. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
* Earlier, Mr. Benoit Guidée and Mr. Bui Ha Nam, Director of the European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the second Vietnam-France Political Consultation session. Both sides reviewed the achievements in bilateral cooperation since the relationship was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership over a year ago and agreed on cooperation directions to deepen and enhance the relationship, commensurate with the new framework.
Both sides shared views on international and regional issues of mutual concern and agreed to continue close cooperation and mutual support in multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations and within the ASEAN-EU framework.
Regarding the South China Sea, both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight, upholding the rule of law in maritime areas, and resolving disputes in the South China Sea through peaceful means based on international law.
