Vietnam boosts multilateral cooperation in Marseille
WVR - Vietnamese Ambassador to France Trinh Duc Hai visited Marseille to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.
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The visit aimed to enhance connections between Vietnam and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region across key pillars such as governance, economy, parliament, media, and community, while promoting the realization of high-level cooperation directions into tangible projects.
During meetings with local authorities, including Bouches-du-Rhône Prefect Jacques Witkowski, representatives of the Provincial Council, and the Mayor of Marseille's 11th and 12th districts, Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai emphasized the need to transform the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and France" framework into specific cooperation programs aligned with each side's development needs.
French partners affirmed Marseille's strategic position in politics and economics, with its port system serving as the southern gateway to France and Europe.
In the context of a volatile international environment, the French side assessed that Marseille faces both challenges and opportunities to enhance its role in global value chains.
The two sides discussed priority cooperation areas such as maritime economy, logistics, port management, strategic infrastructure, and urban transportation, while highlighting potential collaboration in high-tech industries, with France emphasizing its strengths in nuclear technology.
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| Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai presents a gift to Senator Jérémy Bacchi during his visit to Marseille, France. (Source: VNA) |
Prefect Jacques Witkowski expressed his pleasure in welcoming the Vietnamese Ambassador, emphasizing that the Bouches-du-Rhône area hosts a large Vietnamese community, accounting for nearly half of the Vietnamese population in France.
He affirmed that local authorities prioritize the well-being of this community while maintaining deep historical ties between the two sides.
The Prefect highly valued the potential for trade cooperation, particularly through the CMA CGM shipping group, which has significant trade relations with Vietnam.
Additionally, he highlighted the foundational role of people-to-people exchanges, cultural, educational, and scientific cooperation as key factors in strengthening long-term relations.
According to him, despite the geographical distance, historical, cultural, and human connections will continue to provide a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation.
In discussions with local authorities, Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai also proposed enhancing connections between research centers, businesses, and local innovation hubs with Vietnam's technology ecosystem, especially in areas like artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology, energy, and digital technology.
Decentralized cooperation continued to be emphasized, with a focus on promoting sister-city relationships between Marseille and certain Vietnamese localities, particularly Hai Phong city.
The Ambassador also expressed a desire for local support in accessing and utilizing resources at the National Overseas Archives Center in Aix-en-Provence.
In discussions with the Aix-Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry, both sides appreciated the existing economic cooperation foundation and emphasized Marseille's role as a strategic gateway for Vietnamese goods entering Europe.
The Ambassador proposed exploring the establishment of a "port-to-port" cooperation framework between Hải Phòng and Marseille in a substantive, step-by-step manner; he also stressed the need for airlines from both countries to explore opening direct flights between Marseille and a major Vietnamese city, facilitating trade, investment, tourism, people-to-people exchanges, and educational exchanges.
Representatives from the Aix-Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlighted the shift towards green and high-tech economic sectors, prioritizing the development of decarbonization industries, hydrogen production, data storage, and battery manufacturing.
The French side assessed Vietnam as a dynamic partner in Asia, playing an important role in industrial and technological production chains. Both sides acknowledged significant potential for cooperation in infrastructure, high-speed rail, aviation, pharmaceuticals, and artificial intelligence.
CCI representatives also emphasized Marseille's advantage as a global undersea cable hub and a trade nexus between Europe, Africa, and Asia, creating favorable conditions for economic and technological cooperation with Vietnam.
In a meeting with Senator Jérémy Bacchi, both sides affirmed the increasingly important role of parliamentary channels and local cooperation in deepening Vietnam-France relations.
The Ambassador appreciated the Senator's interest and positive contributions to Vietnam, highlighting the significance of elevating bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Both sides also discussed promoting sister-city relationships between Marseille and Vietnamese localities as a practical approach. The Ambassador urged the French side to continue supporting the early ratification of the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), contributing to a favorable environment for bilateral investment cooperation.
During a meeting with Léo Purguette, President of La Marseillaise newspaper, the Ambassador expressed his emotion in choosing Marseille and La Marseillaise as the first destination in his local working trips since assuming his duties.
The Ambassador emphasized Marseille's special historical significance to Vietnam, associated with important milestones in President Ho Chi Minh's journey.
La Marseillaise's leadership introduced the newspaper's history, activities, and editorial team, affirming their commitment to preserving traditional values and maintaining a close relationship with Vietnam.
The Ambassador expressed a desire to enhance cooperation with the newspaper in promoting the image of modern Vietnam to the local public.
During the visit, the Ambassador and his delegation met with representatives of Vietnamese associations and the Vietnamese community in Bouches-du-Rhône.
Local authorities assessed the Vietnamese community as one of the best-integrated communities, making positive contributions to the socio-economic life in the area.
The Ambassador affirmed that the Vietnamese community is an important bridge between the two countries, expressing a desire for continued attention and support from local authorities for the community's stable and sustainable development.
Concluding the visit, Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai affirmed the vast cooperation potential between Vietnam and the Marseille region in areas such as ports, logistics, energy, innovation, and cultural exchange.
The Ambassador emphasized that the Vietnamese Embassy in France will continue to accompany, support, and facilitate effective implementation of cooperation initiatives between the two sides, contributing to the increasingly profound, substantive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam-France relations.
