Parliamentary diplomacy 'builds' bridges connecting Vietnam and France

Chairwoman of the France-Vietnam Friendship Group at the French National Assembly Anne Le Hénanff shared the two countries' efforts in strengthening their partnership and building sustainable bridges in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Group at the French National Assembly Anne Le Hénanff.

On the occasion of Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh leading the Vietnamese National Assembly delegation to attend the 50th General Assembly of the Francophone Parliamentary Union (APF) in Paris, Chairwoman of the France-Vietnam Friendship Group in the French National Assembly Anne Le Hénanff emphasized the level of trust, strength and depth in the Vietnam-France relationship.

According to Ms. Anne Le Hénanff, the announcement of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and France by French President Emmanuel Macron and General Secretary andPresident To Lam in October 2024 is an important turning point. This demonstrates mutual recognition of the level of trust, strength and depth in cooperation between the two countries.

Special concern for each other

The Chairman of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group in the French National Assembly said that the momentum of bilateral relations is clearly demonstrated through the increase in exchanges between the two parliaments. In France, there is an increasing special interest in the S-shaped country, demonstrated through regular visits by delegations, the organization of political dialogues and mutual support in international organizations, especially within the framework of the Francophone Parliamentary Union.

This commitment and special attention have been concretely demonstrated in the visits of high-ranking leaders. President Emmanuel Macron paid a State visit to Vietnam from May 25-27 with a high-ranking delegation, and many French ministers have also paid recent visits (on transport, digital transformation, foreign trade, etc.). Last month, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife, along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, attended the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice and conducted a number of bilateral activities in France.

And the visit of Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh is also part of this series of high-level exchanges. These visits demonstrate the common desire of both sides to strengthen the partnership and build sustainable bridges between the two countries.

According to Ms. Le Hénanff, the cooperation between the Vietnam-France and France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Groups is currently very good and based on a spirit of sincere cooperation. The two sides work in close coordination and share common concerns.

Since assuming the role of President of the France-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group in the French National Assembly in 2022, she has witnessed the dynamism in relations between the two countries. The group has welcomed Vietnamese National Assembly deputies in Paris and organized joint working sessions.

There are many topics of mutual interest and dialogue between the two sides, which are increasingly going into depth in areas of cooperation of common interest such as: health, climate change, culture, local decentralization, energy, Francophone...

Ms. Le Hénanff expressed her deep appreciation for the important role of Chairwoman of the Vietnam - France Friendship Parliamentarians' Group Nguyen Thuy Anh with her great contributions in promoting relations between the two legislative bodies.

"I hope that parliamentary diplomacy will continue to play its role through regular exchanges, demonstrating the friendship between the two peoples," Ms. Le Hénanff shared.

Expressing her delight at welcoming the Vietnamese National Assembly delegation to work together on common topics, Ms. Le Henanff affirmed that the presence of Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh would increase the importance of the meetings.

The current goal of Vietnam-France parliamentary diplomacy is to further strengthen cooperation activities around common priorities: climate change adaptation, digital transformation, cooperation in the health sector and the restoration and enhancement of French language teaching, a field that is somewhat declining in Vietnam.

Hope for a dynamic, diverse and inclusive Francophone community

Through regular exchanges with the Friendship Parliamentarians Group, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet, and Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang, Vietnamese Ambassador to France, Ms. Le Hénanff shared some of the major challenges facing Vietnam-France relations.

One of the central challenges is that France has not yet ratified the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) - an agreement that Vietnam has high expectations for. The agreement will create a safe and transparent legal framework for European businesses wishing to invest in Vietnam, in the context of Vietnam's increasingly open economy. The visit of the French President last May also clearly demonstrated this: more than 9 billion Euros of cooperation projects have been announced in key areas such as aviation, energy and railways.

"The official entry into force of EVIPA will contribute to consolidating the momentum of cooperation and enhancing France's economic presence in this strategic region. I am actively campaigning to put this agreement on the agenda of the French National Assembly as soon as possible," said Ms. Le Hénanff.

Apart from the economic field, there are many other important issues in the bilateral dialogue, such as the issue of fishing in the East Sea, a topic of common concern both in terms of sovereignty and environmental sustainability.

Along with that, French is also an important pillar in bilateral cooperation, which is especially valued by both sides. French is present in education, diplomacy, culture and is a strong bridge connecting the people of the two countries.

In the current geopolitical context, the President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Group at the French National Assembly believes that parliamentary diplomacy plays a key role in establishing direct, humane and sustainable relations. In key areas such as climate, digital transformation or the economy, parliamentarians play an important role in promoting the bilateral agenda. They can convey strong political messages, encourage strategic cooperation and support the ratification of major agreements, such as the EVIPA.

"The 50th General Assembly of the Francophone Parliamentary Union (APF), held in Paris, is a great opportunity in this context. The event allows to raise the voice of French-speaking Asian countries, in which Vietnam is an active and strongly committed pillar of the regional Francophone community," Ms. Le Hénanff emphasized.

Faced with a significant decline in French language learning in Vietnam, Ms. Le Hénanff believes that a common solution is needed, such as increasing support for bilingual education, teacher training and developing university exchange programs... And especially parliamentarians can play a leading role in this area.

According to the French parliamentarian, the APF is also a good opportunity to organize many bilateral and international meetings, verify the level of convergence between our priorities with our partners and deliver clear political messages for a dynamic, diverse and inclusive Francophone community.

On the occasion of the visit of Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh, Ms. Le Henanff expressed to the National Assembly and people of Vietnam a message of sincere friendship, deep respect and desire to enhance cooperation.

According to her, Vietnam and France have a long and meaningful shared history. France's participation for the first time in the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory in May 2024, which she had the honor of attending with French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu, is a symbol of the two countries' shared desire to build a lasting relationship.

Ms. Le Hénanff said she had a working trip to Vietnam last May with the French President's visit and is expected to return to the S-shaped country next year.

Sharing the joy and anticipation of meeting Vice President of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh, the French parliamentarian affirmed that he always welcomes Vietnamese National Assembly delegates in France, especially in the French National Assembly.

"With the development aspirations that Vietnam has announced for the coming years, with strong economic growth and the strong friendship between the two countries, I believe in the prospect of further strengthening the bilateral relationship, which I pledge to continue promoting in my role as President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Group," the President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Group in the French National Assembly emphasized.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ngoai-giao-nghi-vien-xay-nhung-nhip-cau-gan-ket-viet-nam-phap-320415.html