French Ambassador Olivier Brochet: New momentum for Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
WVR - French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet affirmed that Vietnam and France share foundational values such as multilateralism, adherence to international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.
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| French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet in an interview with the press on the occasion of the French National Day, July 14. (Photo: Trung Anh) |
According to the French Ambassador, in the context of the world undergoing profound and unpredictable changes, it is more necessary and meaningful than ever for the two countries to continue strengthening political cooperation based on these shared values.
On the occasion of the French National Day (July 14), French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet spoke with the press about the significant milestones in Vietnam-France relations in recent times.
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| French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet shares about the significant milestones in Vietnam-France relations since the two countries established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. (Photo: Trung Anh) |
Since your term in Vietnam in 2023, the bilateral relationship has witnessed many landmark developments, notably the upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the vibrant high-level visits and exchanges. Looking back over the past nearly three years, how do you assess the outstanding achievements in bilateral relations? What are the most meaningful results achieved during this period?
Reflecting on nearly three years of working in Vietnam, the first thing I want to share is the feeling that time seems to pass more quickly here than anywhere else I've worked. Vietnam is a country with a vibrant vitality and a very dynamic pace of development.
Therefore, we constantly have to adjust our cooperation methods to keep pace with this development speed, while elevating the bilateral relationship to match the ambitious development goals, great potential, and Vietnam's increasingly important role in the region and on the international stage.
However, the results achieved over the past three years did not start from scratch. The relationship between the two countries is built on the foundation of over 50 years of diplomatic relations, which have particularly strengthened since Vietnam embarked on the Doi Moi reform.
Throughout this journey, France has always accompanied Vietnam. Therefore, all the cooperative activities we have promoted over the past three years are based on a solid historical foundation, political trust, and the deep friendship between the peoples of the two countries.
From this solid foundation, along with the great potential for cooperation to accompany Vietnam in its new development phase, General Secretary, President To Lam, during his official visit to France in October 2024 at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, proposed upgrading the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
This is a particularly significant milestone, opening a new phase of cooperation with a broader vision and deeper engagement between the two nations.
Since the new relationship framework was established, both sides have urgently and actively coordinated to develop an action plan to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
This plan was officially approved during the visit to Vietnam by the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, on the occasion of his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in June 2025. As a result, France and Vietnam now have a very specific cooperation roadmap, and strategic priorities have continued to be reinforced following President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Vietnam.
Once again, I want to emphasise that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is not only aimed at accompanying Vietnam's rapid development process but also at enhancing coordination between the two countries on international issues.
France and Vietnam share foundational values such as multilateralism, adherence to international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. In the context of the world undergoing profound and unpredictable changes, it is more necessary and meaningful than ever for the two countries to continue strengthening political cooperation based on these shared values.
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| According to Ambassador Olivier Brochet, strategic infrastructure, strategic autonomy, and education - innovation will be the three focal points of cooperation between Vietnam and France in the coming time. (Photo: Trung Anh) |
The upgrade of relations between Vietnam and France has opened a new development phase in bilateral relations with many prospects for extensive cooperation. In your opinion, which areas have the most potential for the two countries to further deepen and realize this new relationship framework in the coming time?
In my opinion, there are three major focal points that will create a wide scope for cooperation and further deepen the Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the coming time.
The first focus is the development of strategic infrastructure. As we all see, Vietnam is implementing very ambitious development plans in this field, from energy transition to modernizing the transportation system to enhance connectivity nationwide.
These are also areas where France has strengths and possesses globally recognized experience. Therefore, we have proposed to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in two priority directions. First, to accompany Vietnam in the energy transition process towards reducing carbon emissions in electricity production through the development of renewable energy and potentially expanding into nuclear power in the future.
Simultaneously, we also wish to promote cooperation in the field of transportation, especially railways. Currently, Vietnam has a significant demand for both urban railway systems and railway lines connecting major cities. We believe that with our capabilities and experience, France can become an effective partner in realizing Vietnam's ambitious infrastructure development goals.
Besides technical and economic cooperation, France also wishes to accompany Vietnam in enhancing strategic autonomy. For us, strategic autonomy means accompanying Vietnam in enhancing self-production capabilities, gradually mastering technology, and strengthening the ability to independently determine its development path.
In this spirit, the two countries are expanding cooperation into new fields, from defence-security, space technology to the exploitation and processing of strategic minerals, particularly rare earths.
In this field, France is ready to share technology to support Vietnam in effectively exploiting its resources, thereby serving economic development goals, while also contributing to ensuring stability and diversifying the supply chain for France.
The third focus, and also the most long-term field, is preparing for the future through education, training, and innovation. This is also the message that French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized in his speech to students at the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH) during his recent visit to Vietnam.
In this spirit, we are continuing to promote the Vietnam-France university model, expanding dual-degree training programs, and encouraging more Vietnamese students to study in France to access high-quality training programs.
Further, we also wish to enhance research cooperation between the scientific institutions of the two countries in key technological fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, and aerospace.
I believe that when education, research, and innovation are placed at the center of cooperation, this will become an important foundation for France and Vietnam to prepare for the future and continue to develop the bilateral relationship in depth.
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| The outdoor photo exhibition space of the French Embassy in Vietnam on the occasion of the National Day, July 14, recreates the outstanding highlights in Vietnam-France relations. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
Each French National Day on July 14 carries its own mark and message. As Vietnam-France relations enter a new development phase, what message do you hope to convey through this year's event? What special highlights will guests experience at the celebration?
For me, this year's French National Day on July 14 holds a more special meaning than all previous occasions. This will be the last time I celebrate the French National Day as Ambassador to Vietnam before concluding my term in September. Therefore, first and foremost, I want to see this as an opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the country and people of Vietnam.
I also express my gratitude for the warm welcome, the goodwill companionship, and the cooperative achievements that the two countries have cultivated together over the past time. I truly feel very fortunate to have worked in such a dynamic, open, and affectionate country as Vietnam.
At the same time, this year's French National Day celebration is also an opportunity for us to look back and honor the important strides in bilateral relations, especially the achievements since the two countries established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
These achievements are not only reflected through specific cooperative projects but are also told through images displayed on the wall surrounding the Embassy.
Each photo vividly reflects the strong development of bilateral relations in various fields, while also demonstrating our commitment to continuing to nurture and deepen this relationship in the future.
In addition, the French National Day celebration on July 14, held in Hanoi, has long carried a very unique identity that we always wish to preserve. The garden courtyard of the Embassy also contributes to the uniqueness of the event by providing an cozy meeting space where guests can converse, interact, and foster connections in an open, friendly atmosphere. This is also how we create a dialogue space between the two cultures.
Therefore, this year's program continue to feature Vietnamese artists with songs in both French and Vietnamese, thereby spreading the love for the French language and culture to Vietnamese youth. Guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy traditional Vietnamese tea art along with some other surprise activities.
Through these experiences, we aim to honor the beauty of Vietnamese culture while highlighting the spirit of exchange, understanding, and connection that has become an indispensable part of the friendly relations between the two countries.
| On the occasion of the French National Day on July 14, the French Embassy in Vietnam is organizing an outdoor photo exhibition on the wall surrounding the representative mission's premises. The exhibition space includes 20 representative photos, recreating the significant milestones in Vietnam-France relations across various fields, from politics, diplomacy, defense, transportation, education, culture to sustainable development cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. Each frame not only captures an event but also tells the story of the journey of building trust, companionship, and friendship between the two nations over many decades. Through the exhibition, the French Embassy in Vietnam hopes to bring the cooperative achievements closer to the public, while conveying the message of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that is continuously expanding, looking towards the future with many practical, sustainable cooperative projects that benefit the people of both countries. |
