The consensus was reached at their talks on  the afternoon of September 10 (local time), following an official welcome ceremony at the Élysée Palace, for Party General Secretary and President To Lam who is  an official visit to France and set to attend  the Aerospace Summit from September  10 to 11.

During the talks, President Emmanuel Macron expressed pleasure at welcoming Party General Secretary and President To Lam.

The French President warmly congratulated Vietnam on its sweeping socio-economic development achievements in recent times. Acknowledging Vietnam’s rising role and standing in the region and on the global stage, Macron underscored the enduring, traditional ties between the two nations, affirming that France stands ready to accompany Vietnam into a new era of development.

Recalling fond memories of his visit to Vietnam in May 2025, President Emmanuel Macron extended his thanks to the top Vietnamese leader  for accepting the invitation to pay an official visit to France  and attend the Aerospace Summit.

Macron emphasized that the visit offers a vital platform for the two countries' top leaders to exchange views and chart new strategic directions, driving the Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership toward greater depth, substance, and efficiency.

Macron emphasized that the visit offers a timely opportunity for the two countries' top leaders to exchange views and chart new strategic directions, carrying  the Vietnam-France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership toward greater depth, substance, and efficiency.

General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his sincere gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by President Emmanuel Macron and the French state. He congratulated France on its remarkable achievements and hailed Paris's pivotal role and standing in the current  international arena. The Vietnamese leader affirmed that Vietnam’s decision to prioritize and select France as the first nation in the European Union (EU) to establish this framework of relations serves as a clear testament to profound political trust and a steadfast resolve to elevate bilateral ties to new heights.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the robust and substantive development of bilateral ties nearly two years after upgrading their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Regarding future cooperation, host and guest consented  to maintain frequent high-level contacts and exchanges at all levels across party, government, parliamentary, and people-to-people channels; effectively implement existing cooperative mechanisms; and explore ways to deepen sector-specific cooperation to meet development needs in the new context.

On defense and security, the two sides concurred to continue enhancing and expanding cooperation in military medical training, as well as coordinating efforts and sharing intelligence on crime, particularly organized and transnational crime. Vietnam urged France to continue supporting war legacy remediation efforts, notably in locating missing service members and exchanging wartime memorabilia.

On economic, trade, and investment cooperation, the two leaders shared the view on pursuing new, strategic, and long-term avenues within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, focusing on high-spillover strategic industries and services. They highlighted a value-chain linkage model based on French technology, Vietnamese production, and regional and global distribution, aiming to integrate both nations' strengths, such as manufacturing and agri-food, into global supply chains.

The French side welcomed the signing of multiple cooperation agreements during the visit, including documents in fields of critical significance in the current global context. The top Vietnamese leader  urged the two sides to effectively implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), called on France to soon finalize the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to create new momentum for investors, and asked Paris to encourage the European Commission (EC) to lift the IUU yellow card early to support Vietnam in developing sustainable fisheries.

Sharing a forward-looking vision, the two leaders pledged to maximize France's strengths as a leading scientific powerhouse in Europe, officially designating science and technology as a new, pivotal pillar in bilateral ties. Breakthrough priorities will focus on strategic fields such as aerospace, critical minerals, quantum technology, clean energy, and research dedicated to sustainable development and climate change response.

To Lam proposed expanding scientific research cooperation, including space science and technology transfer and mastery, while requesting support for Vietnam to gradually develop quantum technology. President Emmanuel Macron expressed the desire for both nations to soon launch major new projects in strategic science and technology fields.

The two sides agreed to unlock the full potential of traditional cooperation areas, transitioning toward more inclusive and efficient connectivity models. They concurred on stepping up cultural and people-to-people exchanges by organizing cultural weeks and days for each nation, starting with the Vietnam Day program in France slated for October 2026. General Secretary and President To Lam urged France to simplify visa issuance procedures for Vietnamese citizens to boost tourism and people-to-people ties.

The French side confirmed its readiness to support Vietnam in establishing the Museum of the Communist Party of Vietnam. President Emmanuel Macron affirmed that France will continue actively supporting Vietnam in developing the dental sector-an area of French expertise, as well as providing additional archival materials on President Ho Chi Minh, while further bolstering extensive cooperation in healthcare, education, and training.

General Secretary and President To Lam sincerely thanked France for returning a Dong Son bronze drum artifact to Vietnam under their mutual commitment to combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property, and for donating several artifacts to the Museum of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Acknowledging the active operations of the French Institute in Vietnam, the Vietnamese leader applauded  France’s coordination in organizing a series of Vietnamese cultural events in Paris in October 2026. He urged France to continue supporting Vietnam in researching, restoring, preserving, and promoting the values of heritage sites and historical architectural structures, such as Hanoi's Long Bien Bridge and French colonial villas, with the participation of French architects.

 

On education and training,  both sides consented to effectively implement signed cooperation frameworks, with a particular focus on supporting French-language teaching in Vietnam. To Lam proposed expanding high-quality human resource training into fields in line  with current practical needs and strategic priorities, such as semiconductors, new energy, and railways. Regarding healthcare cooperation, citing the vital role of the Pasteur Institutes in Vietnam, the top Vietnamese leader called for elevating bilateral ties to position Vietnam as a leading regional hub for advanced medical technology applications in Southeast Asia, alongside continued scholarship provisions for Vietnamese medical students.

On this occasion, To Lam asked France to continue facilitating the deep integration and strong development of the Vietnamese community in France, while establishing mechanisms to maximize the potential of Vietnamese experts, intellectuals, and scientists to contribute to the host country and further boost bilateral ties.

Concerning  regional and international issues, President Emmanuel Macron praised and shared General Secretary and President To Lam's profound insights delivered at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue regarding the upholding of international law and the promotion of multilateralism. The two leaders resolved to strengthen coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, particularly within the United Nations and the ASEAN-EU framework.

Turning to maritime issues, the two sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation, unhindered commerce, and the right of innocent passage in the East Sea and globally, as well as resolving disputes through peaceful means based on respect for international law, notably the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On this occasion, both leaders witnessed the signing and exchange of numerous important cooperation documents between ministries and sectors across security, healthcare, aerospace, science and technology, and critical minerals, vividly demonstrating the comprehensive scope of bilateral cooperation.