Vietnam promotes the concretization of cooperation commitments with France

Photo caption — Mayor of Verdun city Samuel Hazard introduced to the working delegation valuable documents at the museum in the city hall. Photo: Ngoc Hiep/VNA reporter in France

Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang emphasized that economic connections between Vietnam and the Verdun – Meuse region have been bringing about clear results, with the presence of large corporations such as Lactalis or companies in the railway and aviation sectors.

He affirmed that the potential for cooperation is still very large, because Vietnamese enterprises are increasingly proactive in seeking investment and production opportunities in Europe to take advantage of incentives from the Vietnam - European Union Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The Ambassador also highlighted the role of the younger generation in cultural and educational exchange programs towards peace and friendship, and recalled the mark of President François Mitterrand, the first Western leader to visit Vietnam after 1975, as a symbol of reconciliation and cooperation.

Sharing with VNA reporters in France, Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang said that this working trip aims to promote trade, expand economic and scientific cooperation opportunities, and promote exchanges with local partners. The delegation had in-depth discussions with the Governor of Meuse and the Mayor of Verdun, thereby realizing the strong support, close affection as well as high appreciation of Vietnam's development potential.

He affirmed that the upgrading of the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and recent high-level visits have firmly consolidated the bilateral foundation, creating momentum to expand cooperation in areas such as trade, food processing, environmental protection, sustainable development and industry linked to local strengths. The Ambassador expressed his hope that French agencies and businesses would participate more deeply in local cooperation, thereby bringing the Vietnam-France relationship into depth, substance and effectiveness.

Verdun, a city in the Meuse department in the Grand-Est region, is considered the “crossroads of Europe” with a strategic location bordering Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg, and is becoming a new connection point in the France-Vietnam relationship. The delegation of the Vietnamese Embassy in France hopes to exploit this advantage to promote the effectiveness of the EVFTA as well as promote decentralized cooperation, which is the strength of the bilateral relationship.

Mayor of Verdun, Mr. Samuel Hazard, introduced to the delegation and Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang valuable documents, including the royal decree of King Khai Dinh, a copy of the golden book signed by the king during his visit in 1922, and documents about the city of Tourane (Da Nang) naming a street “Verdun” since 1919. He emphasized that the common history, despite going through a complicated period, has become a solid foundation for understanding, respect and cooperation today. He also affirmed that cuisine is the direct and authentic way to introduce Vietnamese culture to the French people.

During the meeting with the Governor of Meuse, Mr. Xavier Delarue, expressed his welcome to Vietnamese investors, especially in the food processing and agricultural sectors - the local strengths. He emphasized that this is in line with Vietnam's orientation when seeking to bring goods deeper into the supply chain in France and Europe, including through the construction of on-site processing facilities.

He also proposed expanding cooperation to the field of environment and climate change prevention, considering this a new decentralized direction, especially when Vietnam faces the challenge of rising sea levels and the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. At the same time, he assessed that the French market has a high demand for products with unique cultural characteristics, and Vietnamese goods have every opportunity to affirm their position in this space.

During the working trip, Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang attended the opening ceremony of the “Vietnamese Goods Week” at Carrefour Verdun supermarket with the theme “Tet flavor returns to the French countryside”. The presence of many leaders of the Grand-Est region, Meuse province, Verdun city and Carrefour group affirmed the strong support of the locality for Vietnamese goods and businesses, while opening a channel of practical and promising cultural and economic exchange.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/viet-nam-thuc-day-viec-cu-the-hoa-cac-cam-ket-hop-tac-voi-phap-20251002171836608.htm