General Secretary and President To Lam and French President Emmanuel Macron met with leaders of leading French and Vietnamese corporations and businesses in Paris on the evening of September 10 (local time).
The meeting took place as part of the former's official visit to France from September 10-12.
Speaking after hearing reports and proposals from the participating companies, Mr. Lam stressed that the most essential task at present is to jointly establish a new quality of economic cooperation—one that is more substantive, balanced, technology-intensive, closely connected, and capable of delivering tangible benefits to businesses and people in both countries.
To elevate Vietnam–France economic relations to a new level, commensurate with the potential and aspirations of both sides, he called for a focus on three major shifts.
First, the two countries should move from trade in goods toward joint investment and production. Vietnam encourages French corporations to establish manufacturing facilities, research and development centers, technical centers, and supplier networks in Vietnam, while also encouraging Vietnamese businesses to invest in France.
Second, the two sides should move from a supplier–customer relationship toward a technology partnership. Cooperation should go beyond the purchase of equipment and technology to encompass technology transfer, human-resource training, component manufacturing, research and development, maintenance, repair, operations, and the promotion of innovation.
Third, the two countries should move from bilateral cooperation toward jointly building value chains serving ASEAN, the European Union, and global markets.
The Vietnam’s top leader called on businesses and relevant agencies from both countries to focus on strategic areas, including strategic infrastructure and the energy transition; the aviation, aerospace, and high-tech transportation industries; science and technology, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, semiconductors, and innovation; as well as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and the development of a highly skilled workforce.
General Secretary and President Lam affirmed that Vietnam is ready to serve as a partner for French businesses seeking access to a market of more than 100 million people and the broader ASEAN market, while making use of next-generation free trade agreement networks, diversifying supply chains, establishing manufacturing and research and development facilities in Asia, and working with Vietnamese companies to enter third-country markets.
Vietnam also encourages capable domestic enterprises to expand their investment, commercial presence, technological capabilities, and brands in France. This would help leverage the complementary strengths of the two economies and enhance their competitiveness amid the rapid restructuring of the global economy.
He emphasized that the business community is the core force in turning potential into projects, projects into technologies and products, and these into jobs and new development value.
The cooperation documents exchanged on this occasion should soon be translated into concrete implementation plans. Each agreement should quickly bear fruit in the form of products, services, and projects that deliver measurable value.
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