Vietnam Celebrates 50 Years of French Friendship

The seminar themed "Vietnam-France relations: From war to peace," part of a series of events "Vietnam-France relations: Historical heritage in the face of challenges of the 21st century" held in Montpellier to celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations (1973-2023) and 10^th anniversary of strategic partnership (2013-2023).

The seminar was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang, many scholars, diplomats and experts from many fields of the two countries.

Overview of the seminar "Vietnam-France relations: From war to peace". (Photo: NDO)

As the organizer and facilitator, Professor Pierre Journoud, lecturer in contemporary history of Paul-Valéry Montpellier University 3 (France), emphasized that it was a very meaningful opportunity to discuss important milestones in the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

In the seminar, French and Vietnamese experts reviewed historical periods in the relationship between the two countries.

After the signing of Gevène Agreement in 1954, both sides overcame many challenges and ups and downs of history to head to a better relationship built in trust and attachment.

France played an important role in the negotiation and signing the Paris Agreement in January 1973 on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam. Later, France and Vietnam established diplomatic relations in April 1973.

After 1975, Vietnam-France relationship was strengthened and expanded in many aspects, with an important milestone being Prime Minister Pham Van Dong's visit to France in April 1977.

In the 1980s, when Vietnam was imposed with siege and embargo, France was the only Western country to maintain relations with Vietnam through scientific and technical cooperation as well as cultural exchanges.

Since 1989, France has taken the lead in continuing cooperation and exchanges with Vietnam, clearing debts for Vietnam and helping Vietnam settle debts with Paris Club member countries. In February 1993, French President François Mitterrand became the first Western leader to visit Vietnam since 1975.

Both countries have made unremitting efforts to cultivate and nurture friendship and cooperation in multifaceted areas.

France is always one of the leading partners of Vietnam in Europe and in the world. France attaches great importance to Vietnam's position in the region as well as in the strategies and policies that France has been implementing in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

At the seminar, most noted opinions said that the common will and joint efforts of the two countries over the past 50 years have made the friendship and cooperation constantly develop, deepen and diversify, leading to the signing of a strategic partnership in 2013.

Professor Pierre Journoud, Lecturer in Contemporary History, Paul-Valéry Montpellier University 3 (France). (Photo: NDO)

Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang emphasized that roundtable seminars held in the past as well as in the future will be a good opportunity for us to have new ideas and take new actions to further promote the Vietnam-France relations.

The year 2023 marks a special milestone in the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and an opportunity to assess the challenges and areas in which cooperation is needed.

According to Professor Pierre Journoud, there is great potential for both sides to cooperate in trade and economy. It is necessary to encourage more entrepreneurs and startups to invest in Vietnam, promote import and export of Vietnamese products such as garments entering the French market.

Besides, Vietnam and France can further deepen their strategic partnership by setting up working groups to work together on various topics so that we can make useful proposals for the two governments.

He also believed that both countries have come a long way in bonding, but there is still a long way to go to further consolidate the strategic partnership.

The Vietnam Sea and Islands Exhibition is organized by the Montpellier city government in collaboration with the Paul Valery Montpellier School 3 and the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France. (Photo: NDO)

On the same day, the Montpellier city government coordinated with the Paul Valery Montpellier School 3 and the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France to organize an exhibition on Vietnam's seas and islands.

Speaking at the exhibition, Vice President of Montpellier urban cluster Clare Hart highly appreciated the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in general and between the city and Vietnamese localities, especially in the field of economic, cultural and educational cooperation.

Since the end of 2022, many events have been held in French localities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations and 10th anniversary of strategic partnership between the two countries.

The celebration took place in many different forms to review the journey of Vietnam-France friendship and cooperation over the past half century and to examine the prospects in all fields from politics and economics, culture, education, science and technology, as well as the Vietnamese community in France.

The success of the activities in the past time shows the enthusiasm and deep affection of the French partners for the diplomatic relations between the two countries, as well as the desire to promote the bilateral relations to the next stage of development in the context of the world's profound changes.

Special Collaborative Projects Mark 50 Years of Vietnam-France Diplomatic Ties Giving his public remarks on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations(1973-2023) and 10 years of strategic partnership (2013-2023), ...

Expand Network to Promote people-to-people Exchanges Between Vietnam and France The idea was put forward as one of the focuses of Vietnam - France Friendship and Cooperation Association for the term 2023-2028, which was presented ...

Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association: Specific Activities Needed to Attract Young People Agreeing that the young generation is an important force to promote the friendship between Vietnam and France, many members of the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation ...