Vietnamese Party chief holds phone talks with French President
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong held high-level phone talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on October 20 as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of strategic partnership this year.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong (middle) in the phone talks. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong held high-level phone talkswith French President Emmanuel Macron on October 20 as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary ofstrategic partnership this year.
♔ Trong hailed the success of the French Government and President Macronin conducting reforms in various socio-economic sectors to help France develop stronger and enhance its role in strengthening the European Union,contributing to dealing with challenges faced by Europe and other regions across the world.
On theoccasion, the Party leader thanked France for supporting Vietnam over the past years,including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heinformed the French President about Vietnam’s outstanding and comprehensiveachievements after over 35 years of renewal and post-pandemic economicrecovery, as well as the Southeast Asian country's development goals by the middle of the 21st century and its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, and multilateralisation and diversification of relations. The General Secretary highlighted the importance of peace, friendship, cooperationand compliance with the principles of international law and the United NationsCharter in addressing international issues, including ensuring peace andsecurity in the East Sea. TheVietnamese leader affirmed that both sides have actively realised thecontents of the Joint Statement reached by leaders of the two nations during his visit to Francein 2018. Vietnam attaches great importance to and gives a highpriority to the Vietnam-France strategic partnership, and supports France's initiativesfor peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world, he said. The two leaders discussed major directions and measures to expand andimprove the efficiency of the bilateral cooperation. Macron,for his part, affirmed that France treasures Vietnam’s international role and position and its strategic partnership with the Southeast Asian nation. He underlined France's commitment to accompany Vietnam in implementing the country's strategic development goals. He said the phone talks provided an important occasion for the two leaders to discussthe strategic orientations to develop the bilateral relations in the next two decades. TheFrench President agreed that both countries need to continue strengtheningpolitical trust and people-to-people exchange, and promoting strong changes incooperation in different fields such as national defence-security, economy, trade, investment,aviation, energy transition, sci-tech, culture and technology.
He expressed his support for Vietnam's increasedcollaboration with the EU, including the implementation of the EU-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (EVFTA), the ratification of the EU-Vietnam InvestmentProtection Agreement (EVIPA), and cooperation in seafood fishing. He wishedthat both countries would work more closely together in multilateralframeworks, especially the Francophone community.
ꦏ Bothleaders promised to instruct relevant agencies to actively realise theagreed contents. Trong took this occasion to reiterate his invitation tothe French President to visit Vietnam, and the latter accepted it with pleasure./.
Since the establishment of a strategic partnership a decade ago (September 25, 2013-2023), Vietnam-France ties have been growing rapidly both in width and depth, Vietnamese Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang told the Vietnam News Agency in a recent interview on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership.
Parliamentary diplomacy is an important link in the cooperation between France and Vietnam, said President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group (FVFPG) Anne Le Hénanff.
Vietnam and France have witnessed numerous strides in bilateral relations over the last 10 years, since their strategic partnership was set up, and the potential of their ties remains tremendous, said Benoit Guidee, Asia and Oceania Director at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The “Tremplin pour le Vietnam” (Springboard to Vietnam) project - a collaboration between France's Paul-Valery Montpellier III University and the University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS) - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, has affirmed its role as a bridge to connect French young people with Vietnamese culture and language.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong (middle) in the phone talks. (Photo: VNA) 
