Intensifying existing cooperation mechanisms, expanding areas of collaboration, and deepening ties in economy, trade, defense, security, education, science, and technology were aspects on which Macron and his Vietnamese counterpart, Luong Cuong, agreed in their official talks.

At a joint press briefing on Monday, the French president highlighted what he considered a strong connection between the two nations and expressed his desire to face common challenges together, move towards a shared prosperous future, and support Vietnam in its efforts to become a developed country by 2045.

He also noted that after raising the level of bilateral ties to that of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October last year, France became the first country in the European Union to achieve such status with Vietnam, marking the beginning of a new stage of collaboration in all spheres. Cuong, in turn, emphasized that the economic and trade sectors remain the cornerstones of bilateral ties, and both sides pledged to implement effectively the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

At the end of the official talks, several agreements were signed in the fields of space cooperation, satellite development, mining, high-speed trains, nuclear energy, health, aviation, and logistics.

The French president also met with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), who reaffirmed his country’s willingness to strengthen multifaceted cooperation with that European nation.

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