New impulse for Vietnam-France relations

During his stay in France, Party General Secretary Trong held talks with President Emmanuel Macron; and met Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, President of the National Assembly Francois De Rugy; and President of the Senate Gérard Larcher. 

On March 25, the Party General Secretary laid flowers at the statue of late President Ho Chi Minh, planted a commemorative tree, and visited the Ho Chi Minh Space in Montreuil city. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA The Party chief presents a gift to Mayor of Montreuil city Patrice Bessac. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA

The Party chief visited Ho Chi Minh space at the Montreuil Museum of History in Montreuil city and visited Choisy Le Roi City, where negotiations on the Paris Agreement to end the war and restore peace in Vietnam took place 45 years ago. He received leading business people in France and met with young Vietnamese intellectuals.

In their meetings and talks, both sides exchanged measures to set up frameworks and create new momentum to deepen the bilateral strategic partnership, thus opening a new development phase for the two countries.

Regional and international issues of mutual concerns, especially regional security were also on the table. They agreed that all disputes must be settled by peaceful means, based on international regulations and each nation should be responsible for regional security and development.

On March 26, an official welcome ceremony was held for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at Les Invalides in Paris. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA On March 26, Party General Secretary Trong met young Vietnamese intellectuals in France. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA On March 26, the Party chief visited the Paris Agreement square in Choisy Le Roi city. In the photo: Mayor of Choisy Le Roi city Didier Guillaume receives the Vietnamese Party chief. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA On March 26, the Party chief also met with French friends in Choisy Le Roi city on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement. In the photo: The Party General Secretary with Raymonde Dien. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA On March 26, the Party chief held a meeting with President of the French National Assembly Francois de Rugy. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA The Vietnamese Party General Secretary and the President of the French National Assembly attend the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic ties. In the photo: Party General Secretary Trong delivers a speech. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA On March 26, the Vietnamese Party leader met with French Prime Minister  Édouard Phillippe. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA On March 26, the Party chief also met with President of the Senate of France Gérard Larcher. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA On March 26, the Vietnamese Party General Secretary and the President of the French National Assembly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between Vietnam and France. In the photo: The signing of a letter of intention (LoI) on space technology between the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and France’s Airbus Defence and Space. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the French National Assembly Francois de Rugy witness the signing of the 2018 cooperation programme between Vietnam’s Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Council of French Notary. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA The signing ceremony of an engine repair and maintenance contract between Vietnam Airlines and Air France and Air France Industry. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA  The Vietnamese Party Chief and the President of the French National Assembly witness the signing of a MOU on purchase of 24 aircrafts between Vietnam’s Bamboo Airlines and France’s Airbus. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA French President Emmanuel Macron receives Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Photo: Tri Dung  / VNA The Vietnamese Party chief holds talks with the French President at the Élysée Palace. Photo: Tri Dung  / VNA The two leaders address the press at the Élysée Palace. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and French President Emmanuel Macron witnessed the signing of cooperation documents at the Élysée Palace. In the photo: The signing ceremony of a statement on cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA The signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the French Development Agency (AFD). Photo: Tri Dung / VNA The signing ceremony of a MoU between Vietnam’s T&T Group and Bouygues Group of France on investment cooperation in an urban railway project.  Photo: Tri Dung / VNA Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh hands a written approval for French EDF Group’s investment in Son My thermal power plant. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA The Party chief received National Secretary of the French Communist Party (PCF) Pierre Laurent in Paris on March 27. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA The Party chief with the President and Vice President of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF). Photo: Tri Dung / VNA The Party leader addresses the meeting with representatives of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF). Photo: Tri Dung / VNA Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has a meeting with the staff of the Vietnam Embassy and Vietnamese in France. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA  The Vietnamese leader attends the ceremony to hand over Airbus aircraft to Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air. Photo: Tri Dung / VNA

Economic cooperation is a pillar in the relations between Vietnam and France. During the Party General Secretary’s visit, 21 documents were signed, including eight economic contracts worth over 10 billion euros, on various fields, such as aviation, information technology, energy and infrastructure. The two sides showed resolution to soon complete the signing and approval of the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement in 2018, creating a new momentum and opportunity for economic cooperation and investment between the two countries, as well as between Vietnam and other EU countries.

The Party General Secretary encouraged French businesses to increase their investment in Vietnam, particularly in the fields which France has advantages while Vietnam has the demand, including high technology, clean energy and organic agriculture. The French Development Agency (AFD) affirmed its support for Vietnam in projects on response to climate change, sustainable development, environmental protection, and disaster prevention and control, and implementation of green projects in Vietnam.


Special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba

While in Cuba, Party General Secretary Trong held talks with First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee and President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba, General Raúl Castro Ruz. He had meetings with Second Secretary of the PCC Central Committee José Ramón Machado Ventura, Politburo member and President of the National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernández, and Politburo member and First Vice President of the Cuban Council of State and the Council of Ministers Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong laid flowers at Ho Chi Minh monument in Havana on March 28. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA The Vietnamese leader with local people and students at Ho Chi Minh monument in Havana on March 28. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA

In their talks and meetings, the two sides reaffirmed that the special friendship and solidarity between the two countries is a symbol of the era and an invaluable asset of their Parties and people.

They resolved to bolster the friendship fostered by late President Ho Chi Minh and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro.

The leaders agreed on the importance of expanding and deepening the solidarity, friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries, thus actively contributing to their national construction and defence, and to maintaining peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.

During the Party General Secretary’s visit, 22 documents, including four economic contracts, were signed. The visit formed a basis for the two countries and their businesses to seek suitable mechanisms and forms to expand cooperation channels and forms, for mutual benefits of the two economies. At the Vietnam-Cuba Business Forum held during the visit, Vietnamese and Cuban business people exchanged in an open and effective manner, creating cooperation prospects and investment opportunities for the two sides, given the new trade agreement between the two countries will be signed soon.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had a meeting with Chairman of the Cuban National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernandez in Havana on March 29. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visits Vo Thi Thang primary school in Havana. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received the degree of Honorary Doctor in Political and Economic Sciences, given by the University of Havana, in Havana on March 29. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended a meeting with Vietnamese and Cuban youths in Havana on March 29. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA The welcoming ceremony for the Vietnamese leader was held in Havana on March 29. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba Raul Castro Ruz and Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong review the honour guard. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA The two leaders holds talks. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA Party General Secretary Trong laid flowers at the statue of Cuba’s national hero Jose Marti on March 29. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba Raúl Castro Ruz witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between the two countries. In the photo: Signing ceremony of an agreement to free Cuba from its debts to Vietnam. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA The two leaders witness the signing of the Agreement on Judicial Support in Criminal Affairs between Vietnam and Cuba.  Photo: Tri Dung/VNA The signing ceremony of a MoU between the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of Cuba on enhancing scientific and technological cooperation. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA  The Framework Agreement and Financial Protocol of the Vietnam-Cuba Cooperation Project to develop rice production in Cuba for the period 2018-2022 is signed in the presence of the two leaders. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA The signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement between Vietnam News Agency and Prensa Latina News Agency. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong awards the Golden Star Order to First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba Raúl Castro Ruz. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong arrives at Santiago de Cuba city. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA He visits July 26 Historical Museum. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong pays tribute to late Comander-in-Chief Fidel Castro. Photo: VNA

On the occasion, the Vietnamese Party General Secretary presented the Golden Star Order, the most noble distinction of Vietnam, to President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba Raúl Castro Ruz. He officially declared Vietnam’s decision to free Cuba from all governmental debts. On behalf of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, he presented 5,000 tonnes of rice to Cuban people, showing the gratitude and special solidarity of Vietnamese people toward Cuba in the new period.