General Secretary, President To Lam's visits to Russia and France achieve comprehensive, substantive results: Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung
WVR - At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron, General Secretary, President To Lam, along with his spouse and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, made a state visit to the Russian Federation, an official visit to the Republic of France, and attended the Space Summit from September 7-12, 2026. Following the visit, Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung gave an interview about the trip's outcomes.
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| Politburo Member, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Minister, could you share the key and outstanding outcomes achieved during General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visit to the Russian Federation, official visit to the Republic of France, and participation in the International Space Summit?
At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron, General Secretary, President To Lam, along with his spouse and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, made a state visit to the Russian Federation, an official visit to the Republic of France, and attended the International Space Summit from September 7-12, 2026.
This was the first visit by General Secretary, President To Lam to these two countries in his new position after Vietnam successfully organized the 14th National Party Congress, the 16th National Assembly election, and the People's Council elections for the 2026-2031 term.
The trip holds historical significance as it marks the first state visit to the Russian Federation by the head of our Party and State since 1991, as well as the second official visit to France by General Secretary, President To Lam. It is also the second time the head of the Vietnamese Party and State has participated in an international event organized by France, particularly the world's first summit-level conference on space.
The visit was a great success, achieving comprehensive and high-level results across the set objectives and requirements, with many substantive outcomes of significant importance to Vietnam's relations with its partners and its development in the new phase.
Both countries extended a very respectful and warm welcome with many special ceremonies for General Secretary, President To Lam and the delegation, reflecting their special regard for relations with Vietnam as well as for our Party and State leaders, our people, and General Secretary, President To Lam.
In both countries, General Secretary, President To Lam engaged in a wide range of activities, including talks, meetings, and exchanges with the highest leaders, representatives of political parties, leaders from various sectors, from businesses to scholars, those working in science and technology, education, and with the Vietnamese community in both countries. Leaders of departments, ministries, sectors, and localities accompanying the delegation also had effective and substantive meetings with partners in both countries.
A very prominent aspect of this high-level diplomatic activity was the high consensus reached by General Secretary, President To Lam and the leaders of Russia and France on the issues discussed and of mutual interest, as well as the positive results achieved in relations and future directions.
Through this, Vietnamese leader and the leaders of the two countries have enhanced mutual understanding in the context of new international and regional challenges facing Vietnam, Russia, and France; while consolidating the high level of political trust established after the historic visits by General Secretary, President To Lam to France in October 2024 and to Russia in May 2025.
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| General Secretary, President To Lam and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a joint press conference, in September 2026. (Photo; VNA) |
Besides enhancing mutual understanding and consolidating political relations, a very important factor is the high consensus among the high-level leaders of Vietnam, Russia, and France on how to effectively implement the agreements reached in the fields of economy, trade, investment, science and technology, education and training… thereby opening up new avenues for cooperation in these fields.
Although the duration of General Secretary, President To Lam's visit was not long, many cooperation programs were implemented with rich content, recognized and highly appreciated by both sides in the Joint Declarations between Vietnam and Russia, Vietnam and France; in exchanges between the two sides at business forums, science and technology forums, and in the cooperation documents signed.
Vietnam and Russia, Vietnam and France can fully leverage their cooperation potential to meet the needs and interests of each side. In trade and investment, Vietnam, Russia, and France all recognize that bilateral trade and investment volumes need to be higher to match the framework of comprehensive strategic partnership and the potential and strengths of each side. Particularly in the field of science and technology, both sides have reached a high consensus; both France and Russia agree to identify this as a new breakthrough direction in cooperation with Vietnam.
General Secretary, President To Lam emphasised the need to change the mindset, adopt new approaches in cooperation, which was highly agreed upon by the leaders of both countries. The mindset is no longer about how much Vietnam buys from these countries and vice versa or simple technology transfer, but about how Vietnam, together with Russia and France, can co-produce, co-research, and create joint products, enhancing linkage and connecting the common supply chain between Vietnam and Russia, Vietnam and France. This is a very important mindset to guide the cooperation relationship between Vietnam with Russia and France in the future.
Another significant and important point is that through meetings and exchanges, the countries all understand and clearly perceive Vietnam's current approach, thereby agreeing to jointly organize and implement. General Secretary, President To Lam affirmed that Vietnamese leaders and the Vietnamese government will direct and resolve each project to remove any obstacles and difficulties, thereby achieving specific results and focusing on new directions.
The development of cooperative relations between Vietnam with Russia and France not only contributes to achieving Vietnam's socio-economic development, science and technology goals in the future. With both countries being Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council, having important positions and voices, strengthening relations with the two countries will help Vietnam successfully implement the foreign policy of the 14th National Party Congress, enhance Vietnam's international position, consolidate our foreign relations in the Asia-Pacific region as well as globally, bringing common benefits, consolidating peace, stability, and cooperation in the region and the world.
Regarding the International Space Summit in France, French leaders and international organizations highly appreciated General Secretary, President To Lam's participation and important speech. Space is currently not only a scientific issue but also a new development space, which the Party and State of Vietnam are very interested in and wish to take advantage of for national development. France is a country with significant potential and strengths in both science, application, and businesses operating in the space sector.
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| General Secretary, President To Lam with speakers at the Official Session of the Space Summit, September 2026 in France.(Photo: VNA) |
Minister, could you elaborate on the significance of these outcomes for Vietnam-Russia and Vietnam-France relations? What steps will be taken to effectively implement the results achieved through this visit?
To effectively implement the results achieved through this visit, Vietnam and its partners will continue to closely cooperate in the following tasks in the coming time:
Firstly, promptly concretize high-level agreements into programs, plans, and projects. Vietnamese ministries, sectors, localities, agencies, and enterprises, along with those of the partner countries, need to closely coordinate to develop and implement action programs in the spirit of adhering to common understandings and high-level agreements. These programs should clearly identify tasks, timelines, focal points, responsibilities, and expected outcomes, with the practical benefits of the people and businesses of both sides as the goal, and effectiveness and concrete results as the measure of success.
Secondly, fully utilize existing cooperation mechanisms. Vietnam and its partners need to enhance periodic reviews, promptly address difficulties, closely monitor the implementation of high-level agreements reached, and continue to coordinate in completing and upgrading legal frameworks to facilitate key cooperative projects in strategic fields.
Thirdly, prioritize the implementation of strategic and symbolic projects. With Russia, the priority is the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant project, oil and gas, energy, railway, and logistics projects, while promoting joint research programs, technology transfer, and human resource training.
With France, continue to effectively implement the EVFTA, proactively resolve trade, investment, market connectivity, logistics, and supply chain bottlenecks, creating conditions for businesses to participate more deeply in specific projects. The implementation process must ensure harmonious benefits, comply with laws, and maintain long-term quality, safety, and effectiveness.
Fourthly, enhance coordination at international and regional forums, especially at the United Nations, ASEAN, and multilateral forums that Vietnam and its partners participate in, thereby contributing to promoting multilateralism, dialogue, building trust, respecting international law, and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
As a member of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), Vietnam wishes to strengthen cooperation with member countries, including Russia and France, in the field of space, contributing to promoting the peaceful use of outer space for sustainable development.
In the coming time, under the administration of the Governments of the two countries, along with the efforts of the functional agencies of both sides, in the spirit and common perception of bilateral relationship development direction, I believe that Vietnam and its partners will maximize potential, effectively seize opportunities, and bring bilateral relations into a new, increasingly strong and effective development phase, contributing to the development of each country, more practically meeting the needs and aspirations of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Thank you very much, Minister!
